SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE VOTES TO PASS PRO-ENGAGEMENT CUBA AMENDMENTS

July 8, 2016

Following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s June 10, 2016 order authorizing scheduled passenger service to certain points in Cuba, as part of a bipartisan Congressional effort to change obsolete American foreign policy with Cuba, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee overwhelmingly voted to include four pro-Cuba engagement amendments in the Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations bill. Offered by Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Jon Tester (D-MT), the amendments conclusively lift the travel ban for Americans wishing to travel to Cuba, allow for the exportation of telecommunication services, and permit the refueling of planes at Bangor International Airport in Maine for flights en route to Cuba. The amendments also allow Americans to offer private credit for the exportation of American agricultural commodities to Cuba and repeal the prohibition against U.S. vessels loading or offloading freight within 180 days after entering a port in Cuba without first procuring a license issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017 will most likely pass later this year.

If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).

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