Cuba: Issues for the 110th Congress

Publication Date: September 2008

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Cuba

Abstract:

Since the early 1960s, U.S. policy toward Cuba under Fidel Castro has consisted largely of isolating the communist nation through comprehensive economic sanctions, which have been significantly tightened by the Bush Administration, including restrictions on travel, private humanitarian assistance, and payment terms for U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. A second component of U.S. policy 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 will be how to best support political and economic change in one of the world's remaining few communist nations. Unlike past years, however, Congress is now examining policy toward Cuba in the context of Fidel Castro's temporary, and potentially permanent, departure from the political scene because of health conditions, which could foster a re-examination of U.S. policy. Although there has been broad agreement in Congress on the overall objective of U.S. policy toward Cuba -- to help bring democracy and respect for human rights to the island -- there have been several schools of thought on how best to achieve that objective. Some advocate maximum pressure on the Cuban government until reforms are enacted; others argue for lifting some sanctions that they believe are hurting the Cuban people, or as part of a strategy of lifting sanctions incrementally in response to positive changes in Cuba. Still others call for a swift normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations.

Over the past several years, Congress has continued its high level of interest in Cuba with a variety of legislative initiatives regarding sanctions and human rights. Although one or both houses have at times approved legislative provisions that would ease U.S. sanctions on Cuba, ultimately these provisions have been stripped out of the final enacted measures. President Bush has regularly threatened to veto various appropriations bills if they contained provisions weakening the embargo.

Legislative action on several FY2007 appropriations measures was not completed in the 109th Congress, so action can be anticipated in 2007. House-passed H.R. 5522 would have funded FY2007 Cuba democracy projects, and House and Senate versions of the bill had contrasting provisions on anti-drug cooperation with Cuba. Other bills addressed provisions on agricultural exports, travel, and Cuba broadcasting. In the 110th Congress, several measures have been introduced that would ease Cuba sanctions -- H.R. 177 (educational travel), H.R. 216 (Cuban baseball players), and H.R. 217 (overall embargo) -- while one measure would tighten sanctions -- H.R. 571 (related to U.S. fugitives in Cuba).

This report will be updated regularly. Also see CRS Report RL33622, Cuba after Fidel Castro: U.S. Policy Implications and Approaches; CRS Report RL31139, Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances; CRS Report RL32251, Cuba and the State Sponsors of Terrorism List; CRS Report RL33499, Exempting Food and Agriculture Products from U.S. Economic Sanctions: Status and Implementation; CRS Report RS20468, Cuban Migration Policy and Issues; and CRS Report RL32730, Cuba: Issues for the 109th Congress.