The Latin America Working Group joins thousands of friends of Rev. Lucius Walker, here and abroad, in expressing our great sense of loss at the death of Rev. Walker – and our tremendous admiration for his life. A mentor to many, and friend to more, and a tireless worker for justice and peace, Lucius was and remains a model of commitment, dedication, and faith that lives in actions. He inspired, challenged, guided, and led. Through his leadership of IFCO/Pastors for Peace and through his personal sacrifice, he made people aware and added to the throngs of U.S. citizens who work to end the unjust embargo on Cuba and the Cuban people. Cuba was not the only country to benefit from his humanitarianism, but that is where we at LAWG intersected with his charisma and his example. LAWG sends our sincerest sympathies to the family, friends, and co-workers of Rev. Walker. May he rest in peace.
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by Travis Wheeler
on July 02, 2010
After a momentous week in the nation’s capital, advocates of lifting
restrictions on U.S. citizens’ travel to Cuba have reason to celebrate.
On Wednesday, June 30, the House Committee on Agriculture held a
mark-up session of H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export
Enhancement Act. While out-of-touch hardliners on the committee tried
to amend and motion Ag Committee Chairman Peterson and Congressman
Jerry Moran’s bill to death, it ultimately received a favorable 25 to
20 vote, putting Congress on the verge of voting on ending the travel
ban, rather than simply shutting down its checking account, for the
first time in history.
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by Mavis Anderson
on August 25, 2010
Today, August 25, three key congresspersons sent a letter to President Obama lauding the rumors (that we believe are substantiated) that his administration is on the brink of an announcement easing the ban on travel to Cuba – which is within the executive purview of the President (both President Clinton and President Bush took advantage of the authority of the executive to revise and reinterpret the regulations governing travel to Cuba by limited categories of U.S. citizens).
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by Andrea Lancaster
on June 29, 2010
 On Wednesday, June 30, the House Agriculture Committee votes on H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, which restores U.S. citizens' right to travel to Cuba, creates jobs in the U.S., and puts food on Cubans' tables. What happens Wednesday will determine if this landmark legislation sees the light of day on the House floor this summer or dies in committee. The LAWG Cuba Team will be on the Hill (in 1300 Longworth) for the vote on the bill, championed by Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota (picture right), at 2pm EST. You can follow our "live-tweets" via Twitter or tune in online through the Agriculture Committee's website. Live video coverage can be found here once the "mark-up" begins.
Photo Credit: aflcio
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by Travis Wheeler
on July 23, 2010
On Thursday, July 22nd, Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor became
the latest House member and the first from Florida’s congressional
delegation to join the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (H.R. 874). The
act, introduced in the 111th Congress by Reps. Delahunt (D-MA) and
Flake (R-AZ), aims to restore the right of each and every U.S. citizen
to travel to Cuba, a policy shift endorsed recently by Cuba’s most
prominent opposition figures and 64 percent of Cuban Americans.
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by Travis Wheeler
on June 12, 2010
Many in the United States Congress continue to hem and haw when it comes to repealing the unjust ban on U.S. citizens' travel to Cuba, but the head-honchos of Cuban civil society know where they stand -- and, presumably tired of the hardliners invoking their name in opposition to any change to the status quo, they've decided to set the record straight. In a letter made public on June 9th, 74 Cubans urged members of Congress to vote in favor of H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, legislation currently being considered by the House Committee on Agriculture that would restore the right of each and every U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba, without getting a permission slip from Uncle Sam, and ease the sale of U.S. food to the island.
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