A new session of Congress is underway and this is the first in a new series of legislative updates from IFCO/Pastors for Peace.
We are very glad to let you know about a new bill that has just been introduced in the House of Representatives: "HR874, to allow travel between the United States and Cuba."
HR874 would remove all restrictions on travel between the US and Cuba not only for Cuban-Americans (which is what the new White House and Secretary of State have talked about so far), but for all "US citizens or legal residents." IFCO/Pastors for Peace strongly supports this initiative, as one of many steps that need to be taken to undo the unjust, immoral, and senseless US blockade.
The bill was introduced by Reps Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and has seven more original co-sponsors. Our goal is to make that list of co-sponsors so long that the bill is guaranteed to win.
PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE and ask him/her to give support and co-sponsorship to HR874.
Call the Capitol switchboard: 202/225-3121, and ask for your Congressional representative by name. Ask to speak with the staff person who deals with foreign affairs and/or US/Cuba relations. Tell them you're a constituent and you are asking your representative to co-sponsor and support "HR874, the Delahunt/Flake bill to allow travel between the US and Cuba." (It's ok to leave a voicemail message if you don't get through.) Please let us know what you learn from the conversation, if you get any feedback.
A parallel bill is expected to be introduced soon in the Senate; we will let you know when it's time to reach out to your senators for their support and also about other new initiatives as we hear about them.
This is going to be a very interesting year in Congress. With the US in economic crisis, US/Cuba relations may not be a high priority on Capitol Hill. But we know you agree with us and with the majority of the people of the US that it's long past time to lift US government sanctions against Cuba. Certainly it's TIME FOR CHANGE and we're the ones who will make it happen!
IFCO/PASTORS FOR PEACE
418 West 145th Street, New York NY 10031
tel: 212.926.5757 - fax 212.926.5842 - e-mail ifco@igc.org
http://www.ifconews.org
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