[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2478-S2479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BAUCUS (for himself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Conrad, and Mrs. 
        Murray):
  S. 403. A bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Free Trade 
with Cuba Act of 2003. This legislation presents an important step 
toward normalizing United States economic relations with Cuba and 
opening a dialog between our two nations. Perhaps more importantly, the 
bill promotes human rights and democracy in a nation that has suffered 
under totalitarian rule for more than 4 decades, an objective central 
to the same democratic principles that have driven our foreign policy 
since the end of the Second World War.
  The Free Trade with Cuba Act contains three essential components. 
First, it lifts the trade embargo against Cuba and eliminates the 
travel ban that accompanies the embargo. Second, it graduates Cuba from 
Jackson-Vanik and authorizes the President to extend nondiscriminatory 
trade treatment to Cuba. Finally, it removes the restrictions on travel 
between our two countries.
  This legislation is similar to the legislation I introduced in the 
last Congress, S. 400 and S. 401. That legislation was referred to the 
Finance Committee. I am hopeful the committee can pass favorably on 
this legislation quickly so we can bring it to the floor and pass it.
  This legislation is long overdue. In 1962, the United States 
embargoed virtually all trade with Cuba as a response to the rise of 
the totalitarian regime and seizure of American property. Over the 
years, U.S. sanctions against Cuba were further tightened, culminating 
with restrictions on the rights of Americans to visit Cuba.
  Within the context of the cold war, many of these sanctions seemed to 
make sense. Yet throughout that time the embargo appeared to have 
little, if any, effect on the Castro regime. Forty years of the 
embargo, 4 decades of disengagement, have simply not worked. It is time 
to try a new approach. It is time for engagement.
  Supporters of the embargo throw out many arguments against the 
legislation. First, they will say that private property of U.S. 
citizens that was taken in the early days of the Castro regime compels 
us to refuse trade with Cuba until we get the property back. They point 
out horrendous treatment of Cuban citizens by Castro and denial of the 
most basic human rights is also a reason. Let us be clear. These are 
problems and they must be resolved. Yet, the debate is not whether 
these problems exist. They do exist, of course, they exist. That is not 
the issue. We all know that.
  The question, rather, is how to solve it. Forty years of embargo have 
done nothing to regain private assets taken so long ago by Castro and 
40 years of embargo have done nothing to improve the living conditions 
and prospects for democratic reform in Cuba.
  I have been to Cuba and visited Cuba. The people are in terrible 
shape. If anything, the embargo has lessened the prospects for reform 
by giving Castro someone else to blame for the terrible economic plight 
of his people. This embargo, frankly, is something Castro loves. It is 
a foil. He can blame the United States for some of the ills of his 
citizens. It is working in the opposite direction. In other words, 
while the problems may seem complicated, the one thing we can say we do 
know for certain is this: Current policy is not the answer; the current 
policy is a failure.
  We must look to alternatives. How would this legislation resolve 
these problems? First, as to expropriation, the legislation I am 
proposing today calls for the President to undertake negotiations with 
the government of Cuba to settle this issue and make sure those harmed 
by this expropriation are fairly compensated. Second, as to the crucial 
issues of human rights and democratic reform, the legislation simply 
reflects the commonsense truth that engagement between the American and 
Cuban peoples will do much more to open Cuban society and help Cuban 
people, as it has around the world for 200 years, than silence and 
neglect--so similar to the question we had of China not too many years 
ago.
  What did we do with China? The answer was very simple: We engaged. We

[[Page S2479]]

engaged without losing. China is a country. We are a country. Let's 
engage again. The same is true for Cuba: They are a country, we are a 
country, let's start talking and figure out how to solve things.
  We should not delude ourselves. Embargo is a word for neglect. By not 
engaging the Cuban people and opening our world and tradition to them, 
we are neglecting them.
  Last year we worked hard to further trade liberalization, passing the 
Trade Act of 2002. When the President signed that bill he said this:

       Free trade is also a proven strategy for building global 
     prosperity and adding to the momentum of political freedom. 
     Greater freedom for commerce across the borders eventually 
     leads to greater freedom for citizens within the borders.

  I agree. This statement is as true for Cuba as it is for any other 
country.
  Third, on the economics of this, sure, we are in tough times. The 
economy is flat. Our farmers and workers are hurting, but there is a 
market worth up to $1 billion a year we are shutting ourselves out, 
denying ourselves. It makes no sense. The embargo against Cuba 
accomplishes nothing, and hurts our farmers and workers and companies 
by excluding them from a great potential market. Meanwhile, the 
European Union, Japan, Mexico, Canada, dozens of other countries, are 
busy selling goods and building commercial relations in Cuba. We are 
not. They are. Ask me the rationale of that.
  There is a final point regarding the basic rights of freedoms of the 
American people. It is a fundamental violation of the spirit of our 
democratic principles to tell the American people they cannot travel to 
Cuba. What a sad irony is trying to promote freedom and democracy in 
another country by restricting it in our own. It is time to get real 
about this. It is time to get real about promoting freedom and 
democracy, it is time to get real regarding economic expansion, and it 
is time to end the embargo.
                                 ______