House Oks sale of food, medical supplies to Cuba

On July 20, by a vote of 301 to 116, the House agreed to allow the sale of agricultural products and medical supplies to Cuba. The Republican-sponsored amendment would block funding for enforcement of the food and drug portions of the total economic embargo on Cuba.

Speaking for his state's farmers, amendment sponsor Rep. James Moran (R: Kan.) said, "Our embargo against sales to Cuba has done little to change the behavior of this island nation. In fact, it appears to me that the only thing that U.S. sanctions have done is to give Cuba, its government, an excuse to dame us for their failed policies.

"This policy has been in place for 38 years, and a failed policy does not have to be permanent. We have debated this issue on this floor numerous times, and I think it is now time for the House to speak its will in regard to whether or not this sanction policy should be continued:' Rep. Robert Menendez (D.-N.J.) worried that the bill would allow dangerous substances to enter Cuba. "The amendment speaks of agricultural commodities and, as such, chemicals can be sold under that heading, including precursor chemicals, which 1 do not believe we want the Castro regime, which is still on our list of terrorist states and which harbors fugitives from the United States, to have access to. Voting for this amendment would prohibit the United States from enforcing the sale of precursor chemicals that can be used for weaponry, including bombs, biological and chemical weaponry."

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R.-Fla.) opposed any lifting of sanctions on Cuba. "This amendment ensures U.S. government financing to the Castro regime. Our U.S. taxpayers would be subsidizing a dictatorship. Our country was founded on the principles of freedom, of democracy, of human rights. As the leader of the international community, this amendment means that our principles are being sacrificed. It means that we are no longer upholding, defending and, indeed, demonstrating the moral guidelines which have directed U.S. policy of helping oppressed people."

Rep. Randy Cunningham (R: Calif.) used the amendment as an occasion to criticize the administration's foreign policies. "1 do not support the amendment. I wish we had a White House that would not walk softly and carry a big stick of candy, and that is either a Republican or a Democrat; that would force the policies that we want. 1 do not believe a stick of candy to Cuba is the right thing, without a State Department that will stand up for an agreement. And I think the same thing is true with China, and I supported PNTR."

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R. Calif.) worried that lifting sanctions would defuse the anti-communism movement in Cuba. "What is going to happen down there if we pass this? We are going to demoralize all the people in Cuba who long for freedom and democracy. We are going to cut the chances for freedom in that country in half, or cut them down to nothing if we pass this amendment"

A "yes" vote was a vote to allow Americans to sell food and medical supplies to Cuba. A "no" vote was a vote to enforce the current law blocking all sales to Cuba.

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Sep 1, 2000
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