Number: RL30628
Title: CUBA: ISSUES AND LEGISLATION IN THE 106TH CONGRESS
Authors: Mark P. Sullivan and Maureen Taft-Morales, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: Numerous measures were introduced in the 106th Congress that reflected the range of views on U.S. policy toward Cuba. Legislative action last year focused on initiatives to ease restrictions on U.S. food and medical exports to Cuba and initiatives to ease restrictions on travel to Cuba. At the same time, there was legislative action to increase sanctions: by conditioning aid to Russia on closing the Russian signals intelligence facility at Lourdes, Cuba; and by making it easier for enforcement of anti-terrorism judgments in U.S. courts, thereby allowing for the payment of a $187.6 million 1997 judgment against Cuba to be paid from Cuba's frozen assets in the United States to the families of three U.S. citizens killed when Cuba shot down two U.S. planes in 1996. Other initiatives introduced in the 106th Congress dealt with such issues as Cuba's poor human rights situation, cooperation with Cuba on drug trafficking efforts, and the Elian Gonzalez immigration case.
Pages: 31
Date: Updated January 11, 2001