U.S. Citizens can travel to any country in the world except one. It's not the one that the U.S. fought a bloody war with 40 years ago. It's not the one that seized the U.S. embassy 30 years ago. No, we cannot travel to the country which 50 years ago overthrew a military dictator who had taken power in a coup d'état. None of these countries are democracies, but only one is subject to a travel ban.
With the announcement of the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act", a bipartisan initiative introduced by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Reps. Bill Delahunt (D, MA-10) and Jeff Flake (R, AZ-6) in March, it seems as if we may at last be approaching a sane policy on travel to Cuba. But first, we need to overcome the obstructionism of the gang who thinks that 50 years of failed policy isn't enough.
Ms. Wasserman Schultz, tear down this wall!
The United States broke off relations with Cuba on January 3, 1961. Coincidentally, construction of the Berlin Wall began in August of that year. In February 1962, a unilateral embargo was enacted against the nation. Since that time, U.S. Citizens have been forbidden by their government from visiting Cuba, the longest ban of its kind.
In 1971, the Nixon Administration lifted a 19-year ban on travel to China. Ten years later, a nine-month ban on travel to Iran, imposed in the wake of the hostage crisis, was lifted. A decade later, in December 1991, and only a month after the final dismantling of the Berlin Wall was complete, the United States lifted 16-year ban on travel to Vietnam.
The Berlin Wall, if it were still standing, would mark its 47th anniversary this year, just as the U.S. embargo on Cuba did. But 20 years ago, the citizens of Germany retired that relic of the Cold War. It is high time that we do the same thing to our "Berlin Wall". And we just might. But to get the job done, we're going to have to drag some folks kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. And guess what? Some of them are Democrats.
"Freedom to Travel" vs. the "Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus"
In 2003, an organization called the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC formed to boost candidates who supported a hard line against Cuba. Backed by the new committee, Florida state legislator Debbie Wasserman Schultz was elected to her first term in Congress during the PAC's first election cycle in 2004. In 2005, Rep. Wasserman Schultz (D, FL-20) joined with fellow Democrats Reps. Robert Menendez (D, NJ-13) and Eliot Engel (D, NY-17) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), and a host of mostly Florida-based Republicans such as Reps. Connie Mack (R, FL-14), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R, FL-18), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R, FL-21), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R, FL-25) and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) to form the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus. The new organization was instrumental in "reversing a five-year trend in which supporters of easing U.S. sanctions against Cuba were gaining strength in Congress."
The same year that she spearheaded the effort to continue denying U.S. Citizen's the right to travel to Cuba, Rep. Wasserman Schultz's office issued a press release that read:
"The freedom to travel is a part of our way of life and if we start denying legal travel abroad, then we give in to Osama Bin Laden, Hezbollah, and other terrorists who wish to change our way of life," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.
Please contact your legislators
Versions of the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act were introduced in 2003 and 2007, but they never made it out of committee. That's where the 2009 bills are now, and unless we send a strong message, these bills might never make it to the floor to receive a vote.
If your senators or representatives have not yet signed up to co-sponsor the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, please consider contacting them to let them know that you voted to change the failed policies of the past and that you demand the same travel rights that citizens of other countries enjoy.
S.428 Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act
Introduced by Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Michael Enzi (R-WY), Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
Original sponsors:
Committee sponsors: Dodd (D-CT), Feingold (D-WI), Boxer (D-CA), Lugar (R-IN, Ranking Republican), Barrasso (R-WY)
Potential committee supporters: Kerry (D-MA, Chair) co-sponsored the 2003 bill; Webb (D-VA) co-sponsored the 2007 bill
Committee oponents: Menendez (D-NJ)
Potential committee opponents: Gillibrand (D-NY) received $9,000 from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008
H.R.874 Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act
Introduced by Reps. William Delahunt (D, MA-10) and Jeff Flake (R, AZ-6)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Original sponsors:
Committee sponsors: Payne (D, NJ-10), Delahunt (D, MA-10), Meeks (D, NY-6), Watson (D, CA-33), Adam Smith (D, WA-9), Tanner (D, TN-8), Jackson-Lee (D, TX-18), Barbara Lee (D, CA-9), Crowley (D, NY-7), Ross (D, AR-4), David Scott (D, GA-13), Costa (D, CA-20), Ellison (D, MN-5), Paul (R, TX-14), Flake (R, AZ-6), Boozman (R, AR-3)
Possible committee supporters: Berman (D, CA-28, Chair), co-sponsored 2003 and 2007 bills (but received $5,000 from US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008); Manzullo (R, IL-16), co-sponsored 2003 bill
Committee opponents: Sires (D, NJ-13)
Possible committee opponents: Engel (D, NY-17), member of Cuba Democracy Caucus, received $7,500 from US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008; Ros-Lehtinen (R, FL-18, Ranking Republican), member of Cuba Democracy Caucus; Connie Mack (R, FL-14), member of Cuba Democracy Caucus; Klein (D, FL-22), received $10,000 from US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008; Chris Smith (R, NJ-4) received $10,000 from US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008
Following is a list of Democratic legislators whose support for this issue is in doubt, either because they have received large contributions from the US-Democracy PAC, or because the belong to the Cuba Democracy Caucus. It is especially important that these legislators hear from their constituents to balance out the efforts of the anti-Cuba lobby to influence their votes.
Democrats who received $10,000 from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008
The top recipient of contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008 was DailyKos favorite Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), with $11,500. 14 legislators received $10,000 from the PAC during the 2008 cycle, including 9 Democrats, 8 of whom hold office. Of these legislators, only Sires has yet to take a public position on the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. None of them are co-sponsors.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
Hart Senate Office Building
Suite 324
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3224
TTY: (202) 224-2087
Fax: (202) 228-4054
(email submission form)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D, FL-20)
Member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
118 Cannon H.O.B
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-7931
Fax: (202) 226-2052
(email submission form)
Rep. Ron Klein (D, FL-22)
Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
In 2005, Rep. Klein, then a FL state senator, opposed a bill limiting travel to Cuba for Cuban-Americans: "Why punish the families versus the Cuban government?"
Washington, D.C. Office
313 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3026
Fax: (202) 225-8398
(email submission form)
Rep. Melissa Bean (D, IL-8)
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
432 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3711
Fax: (202) 225-7830
(email submission form)
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D, NC-1)
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
413 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3101
Fax: (202) 225-3354
(email submission form)
Rep. Albio Sires (D, NJ-13)
On record opposing the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act
Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office:
1024 Longworth
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-7919
Fax: (202) 226-0792
(email submission form)
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D, PA-8)
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
1609 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4276
Fax: (202) 225-9511
(email submission form)
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D, SC-6)
Received $10,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
In 2000, Rep. Clyburn condemned the embargo against Cuba, noting, "In almost 40 years, it has not worked."
Washington, D.C. Office
2135 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, 20515
Phone: (202)225-3315
Fax: (202)225-2313
(email submission form)
Democrats on the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committees courted by the US-Cuba Democracy PAC
These Democratic senators and representatives sit on the Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and received donations greater than $5,000 from US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008. As far as I know, none of these legislators has yet taken a position on the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. However, none of them are co-sponsors.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Received $9,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
531 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4451
Fax: (202) 228-0282
(email submission form)
Rep. Brad Sherman (D, CA-27)
Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Received $8,500 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
2242 Rayburn Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0524
Phone: (202) 225-5911
Fax: (202) 225-5879
(email submission form)
Rep. Brad Miller (D, NC-13)
Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Received $7,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
1127 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3032 office
Fax: (202) 225-0181 fax
(email submission form)
Rep. Robert Wexler (D, FL-19)
Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Received $6,000 in contributions from the US-Cuba Democracy PAC during 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
2241 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3001
Fax: (202) 225-5974
(email submission form)
Other Democrats who belong to the Cuba Democracy Caucus, but who haven't yet taken a stand
As far as I know, none of these legislators has yet gone on record as supporting or opposing the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. (Please chime in if you know better!)
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus
Washington, D.C. Office
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5274
Fax: (202) 228-2183
(email submission form)
Rep. Kendrick Meek (D, FL-17)
Member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus
Washington, D.C. Office
1039 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4506
Fax: (202) 226-0777
(email submission form)
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D, NY-5)
Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chair of Western Hemisphere Subcommittee
Member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus
Washington, D.C. Office
2243 Rayburn House Office Building
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2601
Fax: (202) 225-1589
(email submission form)
Rep. Eliot Engel (D, NY-17)
Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus
Received $7,500 from US-Cuba Democracy PAC in 2008
Washington, D.C. Office
2161 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2464
Fax: (202) 225-5513
(email submission form)
Other Democrats who are on record opposing the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act"
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
On record opposing the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act
Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Washington, D.C. Office:
528 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3004
Phone: (202) 224-4744
Fax: (202) 228-2197
(email submission form)
And finally, one Republican...
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R, FL-18) is the Ranking Republican on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and a member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus. Her district, which includes the Florida Keys, favored Obama 51%-49%. It is also quite possibly the district that stands to benefit the most from legalized travel to Cuba: Key West is only 90 miles from Havana, and has a deep water port for cruise ships.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R, FL-18)
Ranking Republican of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Member of the Cuba Democracy Caucus
Washington, D.C. Office
Washington, DC Office
2470 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515-0918
Telephone: (202) 225-3931
Fax: (202) 225-5620
(email submission form)