House Passes Amendment to Rescind Bush Restrictions
July 8, 2004
The House of Representatives voted yesterday to repeal the Bush administration’s new set of restrictions on gift parcels that can be sent from the U.S. to Cuba.
The bill is part of a $40 billion funding effort for the State, Justice and Commerce Departments for 2005.
This bi-partisan effort won by a vote of 221-194, again exhibiting a disavowal of Bush’s Cuba policy. Last year both houses of Congress voted to overturn the Cuba travel ban.
"It’s hard to think of an economic sanction that does more harm to the welfare of families in Cuba, or does more to make the U.S. seem mean-spirited… " commented Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) a staunch supporter of freedom to trade and travel.
The new restrictions limit gift parcel recipients in Cuba to parents, children, spouses, grandparents and grandchildren. Clothing, soap and seeds are eliminated from eligible gift parcel shipments. Nonfood parcels can now only be shipped once per month per household, a change from once per month per individual.
