SENATORS DORGAN AND ENZI PUSH TO END TRAVEL RESTRICTION TO CUBA

Business, Agriculture, and Human Rights Groups all join together in support of legislation

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or  Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Michael Enzi (R-WY) today renewed efforts to ease travel restrictions to Cuba, saying that increased travel to the island nation will further the cause of democracy, advance human rights, and be beneficial for U.S. agriculture and business groups.

Dorgan and Enzi have introduced The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (S. 428) along with Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Lugar (R-IN). Joining the event in support of the legislation that would allow Cuban-Americans to see their families and American farmers to sell their products in Cuba were representatives from the American Farm Bureau Federation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Human Rights Watch.

“We allow Americans to travel to Communist China and we allow Americans to travel to Communist Vietnam, because we believe engagement with trade and travel is the best way to promote democracy and open up those countries,” said Dorgan. “But, our policy with Cuba punishes Americans by prohibiting their right to travel. Further, this policy has done nothing to weaken the Castro regime. It’s long past the time to change this ill-advised policy.”

“We have been trying the same thing for over 40 years, and our strategy has not worked. It is time for a different policy – one that goes further than embargoes and restrictive and confusing travel policies. This bill will effectively help us to achieve our goal of sharing democratic ideas with the people of Cuba,” said Enzi.

Currently, Cuba is the only country in the world to which the U.S. government bans travel, with very limited exceptions. The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act would eliminate travel restrictions to the country, and allow Americans to travel there freely without U.S. government interference.

Prominent Cuban dissidents – including Oswaldo Paya, leader of the Christian Liberation Movement, and Oscar Espinoza Chepe, the dissident Cuban economist and former political prisoner – have urged the United States to end the travel ban.

“Our policy with Cuba must be changed,” said Dorgan and Enzi. “This is a human rights issue, this is an economic issue, and it’s time to act on this legislation.”

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