Free Trade with Cuba Act

Summary

Free Trade With Cuba Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the embargo on trade with Cuba. (Sec. 3) Prohibits the exercise by the President with respect to Cuba of certain authorities conferred by the Trading With the Enemy Act and exercised on July 1, 1977, as a result of a specified national emergency. Declares that any prohibition on exports to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1979 shall cease to be effective. Authorizes the President to impose export controls with respect to Cuba and exercise certain authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act only on account of an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security that did not exist before enactment of this Act. Repeals: (1) the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992; (2) the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996; and (3) the prohibition under the Food Security Act of 1985 against allocation of the annual sugar quota to any country unless its officials verify that it does not import for reexport to the United States any sugar produced in Cuba. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the denial of foreign tax credit with respect to Cuba. (Sec. 4) Authorizes common carriers to install, maintain, and repair telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, and otherwise provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. (Sec. 5) Prohibits regulation or banning of travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents, or of any transactions incident to travel. (Sec. 6) Directs the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba. (Sec. 7) Urges the President to take all necessary steps to conduct negotiations with the Government of Cuba to: (1) settle claims of U.S. nationals against Cuba for the taking of property; and (2) secure protection of internationally recognized human rights.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 5 February 1998

   Introduced

   Referred to House International Relations

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 5 February 1998

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Commerce, and Government Reform and Oversight, 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 concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 5 February 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 5 February 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 11 February 1998

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Postal Service.

   Source: Committee

6. 17 February 1998

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

   Source: Committee

7. 3 March 1998

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

   Source: Committee

8. 4 March 1998

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 5 February 1998 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 5 February 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 5 February 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 5 February 1998

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-19] · D · Sponsor
• · hsfa00 · Standing
• · hsif00 · Standing
• · hswm00 · Standing
• · hsgo00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.