Torres - a California Democrat - was joined by 11 other members of Congress in introducing the "Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act of 1997." Four Republicans are co-sponsors of the proposed legislation. Several other Congressmen have signed on since.

The bill would leave the U.S. economic and trade embargo against the Cuban revolution intact, including provisions of the Helms-Burton law. If approved by Congress and signed by President William Clinton, the new legislation would exempt the sale of food, medicines, and medical equipment from the embargo.

Citing a recent report by the American Association for World Health, Torres said "the outright ban on the sale of American foodstuffs has contributed to serious nutritional deficits, particularly among pregnant women... Thirty-seven years of such policies are ample time to demonstrate that U.S. actions are not politically effective."

The other Congressmen present echoed the tone of these remarks. "The existing prohibition [on food and medicines] undercuts the moral authority of the humanitarian message many Americans wish to communicate," stated New York Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler.

"In the end, there is little doubt the Cuban people will have a better standard of living under a more humane embargo that this measure will facilitate," remarked Congressman James Leach, an Iowa Republican.

Under the bill, the White House could not restrict exports of food, medicines, or medical supplies to Cuba. Exceptions would be made if the president decided these goods would be used for "human rights abuses," re-exported, or were "used in the production of any biotechnological product."

The proposed legislation would also allow exporting businesses to receive foreign tax credits for their sales to Cuba, which is prohibited under current law.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home