WASHINGTON—Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, has introduced legislation – H.R. 7521, the United States-Cuba Trade Act – to repeal the U.S. Embargo against Cuba. A similar bill, S. 136, has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The move comes in response to the Trump Administration’s imposition of a total oil embargo on Cuba.
According to Representative McGovern, the embargo, which has been in place for sixty years, has failed to deliver freedom or democracy to the Cuban people. He stated, “It’s time to throw away the old, obsolete, failed policies of the past and try something different. Let’s focus on the people of Cuba—and let’s treat them like human beings who want to live their lives in dignity and freedom.”
McGovern also criticized the Trump administration’s rollback of normalized relations, noting it was criticized even by some Republican lawmakers as misguided and isolationist. He argued that the current approach is counterproductive, harming ordinary Cuban citizens by denying them access to food, medicine, and basic goods.
“The Trump administration says they want to curtail migration, but their own hardline approach only incentivizes migration to the United States by making living conditions worse in Cuba,” McGovern continued. He believes diplomacy and engagement are the appropriate tools to achieve U.S. Goals regarding Cuba.
Copies of H.R. 7521 and a summary of its provisions are available for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does H.R. 7521 propose to do?
H.R. 7521, the United States-Cuba Trade Act, would repeal or amend laws restricting trade, exchange, telecommunications, and travel with Cuba.
What is Representative McGovern’s argument for repealing the embargo?
Representative McGovern believes the sixty-year-old embargo has failed to achieve its intended goals and is harming the Cuban people by denying them essential goods.
What was the previous administration’s approach to Cuba?
The Trump administration imposed a total oil embargo on Cuba and rolled back normalized relations, a move that was criticized by some Republican lawmakers.
As this legislation moves forward, what impact might a change in U.S. Policy have on the lives of ordinary Cuban citizens?
