[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 206 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 206

    Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should 
  temporarily suspend restrictions on remittances, gift parcels, and 
    family travel to Cuba to allow Cuban-Americans to assist their 
        relatives in Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 12, 2005

Mr. Serrano (for himself, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Eddie Bernice 
 Johnson of Texas, Ms. Lee, and Mr. McDermott) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should 
  temporarily suspend restrictions on remittances, gift parcels, and 
    family travel to Cuba to allow Cuban-Americans to assist their 
        relatives in Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis.

Whereas on July 8, 2005, Hurricane Dennis, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in 
        Cuba;
Whereas winds reaching speeds of 150 miles per hour, waves up to 10 feet, and 
        heavy rains destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure, including 
        countless schools, clinics, and hospitals;
Whereas the storm killed at least 16 people and left many others homeless, 
        making it the deadliest storm to strike Cuba since 1963;
Whereas many people in Cuba are without electricity, water, and natural gas;
Whereas the generosity of Cuban-Americans could alleviate some of the hardship 
        of the victims in Cuba and help to provide for their basic needs;
Whereas current Department of the Treasury regulations restrict the amount and 
        frequency of remittances to Cuba which place a burden on the ability of 
        Cuban-Americans to help their relatives in Cuba recover during this time 
        of great need;
Whereas current Department of Commerce regulations restrict gift parcels to Cuba 
        which further restrict the ability of Cuban-Americans to help their 
        relatives in Cuba by providing clothing and personal hygiene items 
        during this time of great need;
Whereas current Department of the Treasury regulations restrict travel to Cuba 
        which prevent family relatives who have traveled to Cuba within the last 
        three years from traveling to Cuba to help their relatives in Cuba 
        during this time of great need; and
Whereas the United States is a country of great compassion: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That it is the sense of Congress that the President should temporarily 
suspend restrictions on remittances, gift parcels, and family travel to 
Cuba to allow Cuban-Americans to assist their relatives in Cuba in the 
aftermath of Hurricane Dennis.
                                 <all>