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From the Latin American Working Group

This message is especially for U.S./Cuba Policy Advocates in NY, CA, OH, LA, FL, and MI:

There has been a recent, important development in our efforts to ease the US embargo against Cuba that requires our attention and work. This Wednesday, May 2, Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) will be introducing an amendment to the State Department Authorization Bill in the International Relations Committee to remove travel restrictions from all economic embargoes currently in force. This would impact Cuba.

In an effort to get this amendment passed on the State Department Bill, it is important that anyone with contacts in the districts of the Members of Congress on the International Relations Committee get their grassroots mobilized to encourage their members to vote for the Berman Amendment. With only two days to mobilize, a short burst of lots of calls will do a lot of good towards getting this passed. Key members to contact are: Chabot (OH), Cooksey (LA), Smith (MI), Tancredo (CO), McHugh (NY), King (NY), Houghton (NY), Crowley (NY), Engel (NY), Davis (FL), Hastings (FL), Issa (CA), and Schiff (CA). (A full list of committee members and how they've previously voted on travel issues can be found at www.lawg.org/berman.htm.) When calling, faxing, or e-mailing offices, you may reference a Dear Colleague letter which Congressman Berman sent out on April 30 to all members of the committee. 

The Berman Amendment is especially important at this point in time as a sign that those interested in lifting the embargo are not going to relinquish our agenda. After the impending nomination of Otto Reich to the State Department and numerous signs that the Bush Administration plans to crack down on Cuba, this is the clear signal that we need to send that our agenda is the one that Congress and the American people favor. If we can pass the Berman Amendment, we will go a long way towards regaining control of the Cuba agenda in Congress and put the White House on notice. 

Please call, fax, or email today. If possible please let us know how you acted upon this request. Copies of emails sent are appreciated. The Capitol Switchboard Number is (202) 224-3121 You can find members' email addresses at www.house.gov/writerep.

Sincerely,

Mavis Anderson
Cuba Project Coordinator

Jordan Press
Cuba Program Assistant
Latin America Working Group
110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Box 15
Washington, DC 20002
202.546.7010

website: http://www.lawg.org

202/546-7010 tel.
202/543-7647 fax

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