Mitch Perry
Although President Barack Obama‘s diplomatic breakthrough with Cuba hasn’t received much support on Capitol Hill, there are Americans — and Cuban-Americans — enthusiastic about normalizing relations with the Castro-led government.
The New Cuba PAC has released its first fundraising report with the Federal Election Commission, and it reports raising $178,140.77 between its launch in Miami on May 4 and the June 30 deadline. The New Cuba PAC is nonpartisan political action committee formed this year to support federal candidates who favor ending the trade and travel restrictions towards Cuba.
“For some time now, polling has shown the American people are way ahead of the politicians in Washington on Cuba policy, and the record travel to the island over the last six month shows they’re voting with their feet a well, ” said James Williams, one of the New Cuba PAC’s directors. “This impressive first FEC report for the New Cuba Pac, and in less than two months, sends a strong message to Congress that the American people are also putting their money where their mouth is and want Congress to play a constructive role in this new era.”
According to Ric Herrero, another New Cuba PAC director, about half of the individual contributions came from Cuban-Americans. “That’s important,” he said, “because most Cuban-Americans understand that the free flow of contacts, information and trade will do more to empower the Cuban people and isolate those who resist change than blanket economic sanctions.” He said the group’s goal had been $150,000 for the first two months of fundraising.
Among the contributors to the New Cuba PAC include former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, as reported by the The Wall Street Journal.
Although there appears to be little mood in Congress to do anything about changing the economic sanctions that have been in place against the island for more than five decades, there is more support for lifting the travel ban on Americans. SB 299, sponsored by Arizona Republican Jeff Flake, has now collected 45 co-sponsors.
Recent changes by the Obama administration have made it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba. Under previous rules, Americans wanting to travel legally to Cuba had to justify their trips under one of 12 categories and, in some cases, obtain a license from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Under the new rules, Americans do not need specific licenses to certify they fit those categories.
