House Votes to Overturn Cuba Parcel Rules
Wed Jul 7, 2004 11:09 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on
Wednesday voted in favor of overturning new Bush Administration rules
banning items including clothing, seeds and soap from being sent in
parcels to Cuba.
Last month the U.S. Department of Commerce issued new rules on parcel
contents after an interagency report recommended them as a way to hasten
the demise of the Communist government in Cuba by denying the island of
much-needed cash and resources.
Food, medicines, medical supplies and receive-only radios are still
allowed but other items such as veterinary medicines and fishing
equipment were banned.
The House voted 221 to 194 to approve the amendment to a $40 billion bill
funding the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce for 2005.
Supporters argued that Cuban Americans were being punished by the rules,
which they said will do little to bring down Cuban President Fidel
Castro. "Let's allow Cuban Americans to observe the freedom they
have to send food, medicine and hygiene items to their people in
Cuba," said Rep. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican who authored the
amendment.
Opponents of the measure said lifting the restrictions would help Castro
by bringing much needed funds into the country. "The best thing we
can do right now is continue the pressure on Castro until he's
gone," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican from California.
Castro told cheering supporters last month the measures were
"pitiless and inhumane" and politically motivated ahead of
November U.S. elections to placate the powerful Cuban American lobby in
Florida, a state President Bush won by just 537 votes in 2000.
((Reporting by Anna Willard, editing by Todd Eastham; Reuters messaging:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]; 01-202-898-8309)
