Cuba Sanctions Bill Introduced
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and six Republican co-sponsors introduced a bill in the House last week that would direct the U.S. to impose sanctions on anyone who provides support to someone in Cuba's military, security sector or intelligence sector. The administration could ask for a waiver for 180 days of these sanctions for national security reasons.
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The bill, called the DEMOCRACIA Act, or the Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus Act, will have a Senate companion, Donalds said in a press release announcing its introduction.
“For six decades, the Cuban people have faced unimaginable horrors that have denied their fundamental human rights, subjected them to imprisonment and abuse, and limited the prosperity of millions,” he said.“This legislation targets the worst abusers in the authoritarian government accountable [for] their egregious human rights violations against democracy activists and reaffirms our commitment to freedom, liberty, and justice. The Cuban people need and deserve the full support of the United States in their relentless and righteous fight for liberation from the Communist Cuban regime.”
“For decades, Cuba has been the root of instability in Latin America and a constant threat to the national security to the United States. The Castro regime harbors terrorist groups, has eliminated free and fair elections, threatens and arbitrarily arrests critics, journalists, and political activists, and props up other ruthless dictators, like Maduro in Venezuela and Ortega in Nicaragua,” said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who will be introducing the bill in the Senate. “As the Cuban people’s fight for freedom from the oppressive and illegitimate communist Cuban regime continues, the United States must stand for democracy. The DEMOCRACIA Act implements severe sanctions against Communist Cuba and closes existing sanctions gaps. The bill makes clear that the United States will not sit on the sidelines during this critical fight. It’s time for President Biden to stop his failed appeasement and punish the communist regime for its crimes. I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to immediately take up and pass the DEMOCRACIA Act and send a clear message to President Biden that the time for strength in the fight for freedom is now.”
Sale of agricultural commodities, medicines and medical devices are not covered by these sanctions, nor are remittances unless the family member is "an individual who is a high-level member of the Cuban Communist Party" or an immediate family member of that high-level party member.
Support of democracy-building in Cuba, as covered by the LIBERTAD Act of 1996, is also exempt from the sanctions.