I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2687 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 3, 2009 Mr. Mack (for himself, Mr. Sires, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, and Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To withhold United States assessed and voluntary contributions to the Organization of American States (OAS) if Cuba is allowed full membership or participation in the OAS unless the President certifies that Cuba has satisfied certain conditions, and for other purposes.

1.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Cuba is currently excluded from participation in the Inter-American system, as adopted by Resolution VI during the Eighth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 1962. (2)According to section 105 of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–114), [t]he President should instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose ending the suspension of the Government of Cuba from the Organization until the President determines under section 203(c)(3) that a democratically elected government in Cuba is in power.. (3)The Inter-American Democratic Charter states that the peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.. (4)According to the most recent Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, citizens in Cuba do not have the right to change their government, and the regime retaliated against those individuals who sought peaceful political change. (5)The Report continues that hundreds of political prisoners are currently being held, including peaceful activists, journalists, union organizers, and opposition figures . . . and that mistreatment of political prisoners and detainees was widespread[, and] [b]eatings were not uncommon.. (6)The Report further indicates that elections in Cuba are neither free nor fair..

2.

Certification regarding Cuba’s participation in the OAS

(a)

In general

If the Government of Cuba is allowed full membership or participation in the Organization of American States (OAS), for each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act until the President transmits to Congress a certification that the requirements described in subsection (b) have been satisfied, the Secretary of State shall, with respect to each such fiscal year, withhold assessed and voluntary contributions to the Organization of American States. (b)

Certification

The certification referred to in subsection (a) is a certification made by the President to Congress that there is a government in Cuba that— (1)has legalized all political activity and political parties; (2)has released all political prisoners; (3)has dissolved the present Department of State Security in the Cuban Ministry of the Interior; (4)has made public commitments to organizing free and fair elections for a new government; (5)has complied with the Inter-American Democratic Charter; (6)has ceased any interference with Radio Marti or Television Marti broadcasts; (7)has made public commitments to and is making demonstrable progress in— (A)establishing an independent judiciary; (B)respecting internationally recognized human rights and basic freedoms as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and (C)allowing the establishment of independent trade unions, and allowing the establishment of independent social, economic, and political associations; (8)does not include Fidel Castro or Raul Castro; (9)has given adequate assurances that it will allow the speedy and efficient distribution of assistance to the Cuban people; and (10)has complied with other applicable provisions of section 205 of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–114).