RL33819
Cuba: Issues for the 110th Congress
September 24, 2008

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Summary:

Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted largely of isolating the communist nation through economic sanctions, which the Bush Administration has tightened significantly. A second policy component has consisted of support measures for the Cuban people, including private humanitarian donations and U.S.-sponsored radio and television broadcasting to Cuba. As in past years, the main issue for U.S. policy toward Cuba in the 110th Congress has been how to best support political and economic change in one of the world's remaining communist nations. Unlike past years, however, Congress is examining policy toward Cuba in the context of Fidel Castro's departure from heading the government because of poor health. Ra�l Castro, who had served as provision head of government since July 2006, was selected on February 24, 2008 by Cuba's legislature to continue in that role officially. In the 110th Congress, Congress fully funded the Administration's FY2008 request for $45.7 million for Cuba democracy programs in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2008 (P.L. 110-161). In other action, on July 27, 2007, the House rejected H.Amdt. 707 to H.R. 2419, the 2007 farm bill, that would have facilitated the export of U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. On May 21, 2008, the Senate approved S.Res. 573, recognizing the struggle of the Cuban people. On June 25, 2008, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY2009 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill with provisions easing restrictions on family travel and U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. The Senate version of the bill, S. 3260, also has provisions easing restrictions on agricultural exports and family travel. Both S. 3260 and the Senate version of the FY2009 agriculture appropriations bill, S. 3289, also have provisions easing restrictions on travel related to the sale of agricultural and medical goods Several other legislative initiatives introduced in the 110th Congress would ease sanctions: H.R. 177 (educational travel); H.R. 216 (Cuban baseball players); H.R. 217 and H.R. 624 (overall sanctions); H.R. 654, S. 554, and S. 721 (travel); H.R. 757 (family travel and remittances); H.R. 1026 (sale of U.S. agricultural products); H.R. 2819/S. 1673 (sale of U.S. agricultural and medical products and travel); and S. 1268, S. 2953, H.R. 3182, and H.R. 3435 (development of Cuba's offshore oil). S. 554 would terminate U.S.-government sponsored television broadcasting to Cuba. Several initiatives would tighten sanctions: H.R. 525 (related to U.S. fugitives in Cuba), and H.R. 1679/S. 876 and S. 2503 (related to Cuba's offshore oil development). Two initiatives, H.R. 1306 and S. 749, would amend a provision of law restricting the registration or enforcement of certain Cuban trademarks; five initiatives -- H.R. 217, H.R. 624, H.R. 2819, S. 1673, and S. 1806 -- would repeal the trademark sanction. H.R. 5627 and S. 2777 would award the congressional gold medal to Cuban political prisoner Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet. H.Res. 935 would commemorate the 1996 shootdown of two U.S. civilian planes by Cuba. S. 3288 has a provision that would fund U.S. work to establish anti-drug cooperation with Cuba. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, several initiatives would temporarily ease some U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba: H.R. 6913, H.R. 6962, and S.Amdt. 5581 to S. 3001. For more information, see CRS Report RL31139, Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances.