I'm ecstatic about this, and it's not an April Fool's joke:
A BILL To allow travel between the United States and Cuba.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act’.
SEC. 2. TRAVEL TO CUBA. On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, and subject to section 3--(1) the President may not regulate or prohibit, directly or indirectly, travel to or from Cuba by United States citizens or legal residents, or any of the transactions incident to such travel; and(2) any regulation in effect on such date of enactment that regulates or prohibits travel to or from Cuba by United States citizens or legal residents or transactions incident to such travel shall cease to have any force or effect.
SEC. 3. EXCEPTIONS. Section 2 shall not apply in a case in which the United States is at war with Cuba, armed hostilities between the two countries are in progress, or there is imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of United States travelers.
SEC. 4. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to actions taken by the President before the date of the enactment of this Act that are in effect on such date of enactment, and to actions taken on or after such date.
SEC. 5. INAPPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The provisions of this Act apply notwithstanding section 102(h) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6032(h)) and section 910(b) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7210(b)).
(Compare HR 874 and S. 428, The Freedom to Travel to Cuba). It should pass this year or next. If it does, Americans will be free to travel to Cuba for the first time in nearly fifty years!
Today's Rune: Wholeness.
6 comments:
This year...let it be this year.
Now that would be good news to hear...
I really thought that Clinton was going to rescind the ban as he left office in 2000. Apparently this resolution is bipartisan. One of the biggest lobbies trying to get the ban ended is the agricultural lobby, who want to open sales to Cuba.
It's funny-- I'm reading Suze Rotolo's memoirs, on your recommendation (good recommendation, BTW). I just got to get to the part where she travels to Cuba.
Seems kinda incredible that this is still so much of a hassle
Hoorah! Cross your fingers, all! Have many friends who have visited Cuba, and I plan to also!!
Very cool! It's about time!
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