[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E137-E138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HARMFUL AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE UNITED STATES EMBARGO ON CUBA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise again this Congress to introduce a bill 
to lift the harmful and counterproductive United States Embargo on 
Cuba.
  On June 29, 2001, the Texas State legislature adopted a resolution 
calling for an end to U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba. Lawmakers 
emphasized the failure of sanctions to remove Castro from power, and 
the unwillingness of other nations to respect the embargo. One Texas 
Representative stated: ``We have a lot of rice and agricultural 
products, as well as high-tech products, that would be much cheaper for 
Cuba to purchase from Texas. All that could come through the ports of 
Houston and Corpus Christi.'' I wholeheartedly support this resolution, 
and I have introduced similar Federal legislation in past years to lift 
all trade, travel, and telecommunications restrictions with Cuba. I 
only wish Congress understood the simple wisdom expressed in Austin; so 
that we could end the harmful and ineffective trade sanctions that 
serve no national purpose.
  I oppose economic sanctions for two very simple reasons. First, they 
don't work as effective foreign policy. Time after time, we have failed 
to unseat despotic leaders by refusing to trade with the people of 
those nations. If anything, the anti-American sentiment aroused by 
sanctions often strengthens the popularity of such leaders, who use 
America as a convenient scapegoat to divert attention from their own 
tyranny. So while sanctions may serve our patriotic fervor, they mostly 
harm innocent citizens and do nothing to displace the governments we 
claim as enemies.
  Second, sanctions hurt American industries, particularly agriculture. 
Sanctions destroy American jobs. Every market we close to our Nation's 
farmers is a market exploited by foreign farmers. China, Russia, the 
Middle East, North Korea, and Cuba all represent huge markets for our 
farm products, yet many in Congress favor current or proposed trade 
restrictions that prevent our farmers from selling to the billions of 
people in these countries. Given our status as one of the world's 
largest agricultural producers, why would we ever choose to restrict 
our exports? The only beneficiaries of our sanctions policies are our 
foreign competitors.
  I certainly understand the emotional feelings many Americans have 
toward nations such as

[[Page E138]]

Cuba. Yet we must not let our emotions overwhelm our judgment in 
foreign policy matters, because ultimately human lives are at stake. 
Economic common sense, self-interested foreign policy goals, and 
humanitarian ideals all point to the same conclusion: Congress should 
work to end economic sanctions against all nations immediately.
  The legislation I introduce today is representative of true free 
trade in that while it opens trade, it prohibits the U.S. Taxpayer from 
being compelled to subsidize the United States government, the Cuban 
government or individuals or entities that choose to trade with Cuban 
citizens.

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