News Flash: We have had another series of successes in the fight to end the most senseless portions of the embargo. At the same time, an amendment offered by Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) to end funding for the entire embargo lost on a vote of 188-225. This is still a very respectable showing of support for ending the embargo in the face of such a divisive atmosphere. But back to the successes!

Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) offered an amendment to end restrictions on financing for agricultural and medical sales to Cuba. The amendment was debated and, after some procedural wrangling, passed on a voice vote. This amendment, if it passes into law, would eliminate the need for sales to Cuba to be cash only and would be good for both Cuba and American farmers.

Next, Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) offered an amendment to end restrictions on educational exchanges to Cuba. After five minutes of debate, the amendment was passed on a voice vote as well! It is significant that the pro-embargo representatives did not ask for a roll call; it means they knew that they were going to lose—and preferred to lose without recording the votes.

Finally, Representative Rangel’s amendment came to the floor for debate. Rep. Rangel gave a passionate and persuasive speech, which contrasted heavily with the same old tired talking points of the pro-embargo side. At the end of the debate, Mr. Rangel told the chamber roughly: They told us after we normalized relations with Korea to get over it. They told us after
normalizing relations with Vietnam to get over it. Now I would suggest that the time has come to normalize relations with Cuba and people who can’t accept that need to get over it. The amendment did lose on a recorded vote; the roll call vote showing how each member voted is not yet available at the time of this writing. We will post it later on our website, www.lawg.org .

The passage of today’s amendments, along with Mr. Davis’ amendment yesterday on Cuban-American travel, yet again proves that the will of the Congress and the American people is for an end to the senseless restrictions on interactions with Cuba. Now the debate moves to the conference committee where we have seen our wins snatched away undemocratically in years past. We’ll be back in touch soon with requests for action to urge the conferees to stand firm against the backroom dealings of the leadership.

For now, please look over the vote tally for the Davis amendment: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2004/roll460.xml and thank or spank your representative. If they voted the right way, they need to hear praise; and if they voted the wrong way, they need to hear your thoughts.

Thanks again for all your hard work. You do indeed make a difference with
your calls and emails.