HR 217 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 4, 2007

Mr. SERRANO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Judiciary, Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Cuba Reconciliation Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF PROVISIONS RESTRICTING TRADE AND OTHER RELATIONS WITH CUBA.

(a) Authority for Embargo- Section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2370(a)) is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Trading With the Enemy Act- The authorities conferred upon the President by section 5(b) of the Trading with the Enemy Act, which were being exercised with respect to Cuba on July 1, 1977, as a result of a national emergency declared by the President before that date, and are being exercised on the day before the effective date of this Act, may not be exercised on or after such effective date with respect to Cuba. Any regulations in effect on the day before such effective date pursuant to the exercise of such authorities, shall cease to be effective on such date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Exercise of Authorities Under Other Provisions of Law-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REMOVAL OF PROHIBITIONS- Any prohibition on exports to Cuba that is in effect on the day before the effective date of this Act under the Export Administration Act of 1979 shall cease to be effective on such effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) AUTHORITY FOR NEW RESTRICTIONS- The President may, on and after the effective date of this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) impose export controls with respect to Cuba under section 5, 6(j), 6(l), or 6(m) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) exercise the authorities he has under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act with respect to Cuba pursuant to a declaration of national emergency required by that Act that is made on account of an unusual and extraordinary threat, that did not exist before the enactment of this Act, to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Cuban Democracy Act of 1992- The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 6001 and following) is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Repeal of Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REPEAL- The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- (A) Section 498A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295a) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in subsection (a)(11), by striking `and intelligence facilities, including the military and intelligence facilities at Lourdes and Cienfuegos,' and inserting `facilities,';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) in paragraph (4), by adding `and' after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) by striking paragraph (5); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(III) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by striking subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Section 498B(k) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295b(k)) is amended by striking paragraphs (3) and (4).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Section 1611 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Sections 514 and 515 of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1643l and 1643m) are repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Termination of Denial of Foreign Tax Credit With Respect to Cuba- Subparagraph (A) of section 901(j)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to denial of foreign tax credit, etc., with respect to certain foreign countries) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new flush sentence:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this subsection shall not apply to Cuba after the date which is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this sentence.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Sugar Quota Prohibition Under Food Security Act of 1985- Section 902(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000- The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7201 and following) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in section 906(a)(1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking `Cuba,'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by inserting `(other than Cuba)' after `to the government of a country';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in section 908--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking subsection (b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking `Prohibition' and all that follows through `(1) IN GENERAL- ' and inserting `In General- ';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking `for exports to Cuba or';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by striking paragraph (2); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) by redesignating paragraph (3) as subsection (b) (and conforming the margin accordingly); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in subsection (b) (as redesignated), by striking `paragraph (1)' and inserting `subsection (a)';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking section 909; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by striking section 910.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Repeal of Prohibition on Transactions or Payments With Respect to Certain United States Intellectual Property- Section 211 of the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (as contained in section 101(b) of division A of Public Law 105-277; 112 Stat. 2681-88) is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES.

Any common carrier within the meaning of section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) is authorized to install, maintain, and repair telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, and otherwise provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. The authority of this section includes the authority to upgrade facilities and equipment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. TRAVEL.

(a) In General- Travel to and from Cuba by individuals who are citizens or residents of the United States, and any transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, may not be regulated or prohibited if such travel would be lawful in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Transactions Incident to Travel- Any transactions ordinarily incident to travel which may not be regulated or prohibited under subsection (a) include, but are not limited to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) transactions ordinarily incident to travel or maintenance in Cuba; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) normal banking transactions involving foreign currency drafts, traveler's checks, or other negotiable instruments incident to such travel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. DIRECT MAIL DELIVERY TO CUBA.

The United States Postal Service shall take such actions as are necessary to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba, including, in the absence of common carrier service between the 2 countries, the use of charter providers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink