For immediate release: Tuesday, May 14, 2002

Press contact: Brian Alexander with the Cuba Policy Foundation

Cell (202) 321-CUBA (2822)

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS UNVEIL

CUBA POLICY REVIEW

BIPARTISAN CUBA WORKING GROUP SUPPORTS EASING U.S. EMBARGO

Tuesday, May 14, 2002, Washington – The forty-member bipartisan House Cuba Working Group (CWG), will hold a press conference on Wednesday at 2:00 to unveil a review of U.S. policy toward Cuba that will contain specific recommendations for changing U.S. policy toward Cuba.

The policy review will outline where the embargo has failed and what the CWG will do to change the United States’ approach to Cuba policy.

The CWG is comprised of forty members of the U.S. House of Representatives, twenty Republicans and twenty Democrats, dedicated to lifting the U.S. travel ban to Cuba, allowing normal exports of agricultural and medical products, and improving human rights for Cuban citizens.

“Ending the Cuban embargo is a bipartisan issue. The embargo denies Americans the right to trade and travel and has not brought freedom and prosperity to Cuba,” said Ambassador Sally Grooms Cowal, president of the Cuba Policy Foundation. “For forty years, the embargo has failed to lead to political and economic reform in Cuba. When a policy this old fails to produce the intended results, it is time for a new policy.”

Coming while former President Carter is in Cuba, according to Ms. Cowal, “The Cuba Working Group and the former President’s visit signal that Americans favor a dialogue with Cuba, and that they support a change in U.S. policy.”

The House Cuba Working Group is comprised of:

Republicans: John Boozman (AR-03); Kevin Brady (TX-08); Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08); Jeff Flake (AZ-01); Wally Herger (CA-02); Ray LaHood (IL-18); Jim Leach (IA-01); Jerry Moran (KS-01); George Nethercutt (WA-05); Tom Osborne (NE-03); Butch Otter (ID-01); Ron Paul (TX-14); Jim Ramstad (MN-03); Dennis Rehberg (MT); Chris Shays (CT-04); Nick Smith (MI-07); John Thune (SD-at large); Sam Graves (MO-06); Tim Johnson (IL-05); John Shimkus (IL-20).

Democrats: Neil Abercrombie (HI-01); Howard Berman (CA-26); Marion Berry (AR-01); William Lacy Clay (MO-01); Peter DeFazio (OR-04); William Delahunt (MA-10); Sam Farr (CA-17); Nick Lampson (TX-09); Stephen Lynch (MA-09); Jim McGovern (MA-03); Collin Peterson (MN-07); Charlie Rangel (NY-15); Tim Roemer (IN-03); Vic Snyder (AR-02); Hilda Solis (CA-31); Charlie Stenholm (TX-17); Mike Thompson (CA-01); Mike Ross (AR-04); Cal Dooley (CA-20); Jose Serrano (NY-16).

WHAT: Cuba Working Group Press Conference

When: Wednesday, May 15 at 2:00 pm

Where: Radio-Television Correspondents Gallery – “Big Studio” The Capitol, H-321

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