Representatives José Serrano, Raúl Grijalva, Barbara Lee Send Setter of Support to Nebraska Governor for his Cuba Trade Mission

Letter Comes On the Heels of Hard-line Criticism of Governor

Washington, DC, August 10, 2005—Today, Representatives José E. Serrano (D-NY), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) sent a letter to Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman in support of his trade mission to Cuba.

Although trip is perfectly legal under U.S. law, Governor Heineman has been under fire from some Cuba policy hard-liners in Congress. Representatives Serrano, Grijalva and Lee see agricultural trade as the type of activity that encourages good relations between the Cuban and American people. Recognizing the positive effects of these sales, and an excellent business opportunity for American growers, 38 states have signed agricultural trade agreements worth close to $1 billion as of today. Elected officials in those states have realized that, as the letter says, agricultural trade is a non-partisan, non-ideological issue and that agricultural trade with Cuba can help improve the basic welfare of the people of that nation. The text of the letter follows below.

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                                               Washington, DC

August 10, 2005

Governor Dave Heineman

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 94848

Lincoln, NE 68509-4848

Dear Governor Heineman,

We write today to express our support for your upcoming trade mission to Cuba.  We urge you not to be intimidated by a vocal minority who advocate misguided policies towards that nation.

As you may know, the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 exempts commercial sales of agricultural and medical products to from the longstanding trade embargo.  Agricultural trade with Cuba has quickly developed into a mutually beneficial arrangement that has helped farmers and ranchers here in the United States, as well as the public health of many Cubans.  Currently, 38 U.S. states have signed agreements to export to Cuba, and the value of total U.S. exports of agricultural products to Cuba is approximately $1 billion. Clearly, Nebraska is not alone in its desire to expand legal trade with Cuba.

You may have heard some argue that any food you help sell to Cuba does not benefit the Cuban people.  This is simply untrue.  The Cuban people are benefiting from high quality products shipped at lower costs from our nation. Their nutritional intake and quality of life is enhanced as they are able to buy more of the same product for less. Simply put, agricultural trade between the United States and Cuba is valuable to the people of both nations.   

We are aware that several of our colleagues in Congress have written in opposition to your trip, and have tried to connect the issue of agricultural trade to Cuba to the political structure of that nation.  We urge you to reject that notion. Agricultural trade with Cuba can help improve the basic welfare of the people of that nation. It is a non-partisan, non-ideological issue that should not be caught up in political rhetoric and posturing. 

We applaud your efforts to maintain a non-partisan stance on this issue.  Furthering the development of trade between your state and Cuba can only benefit the agricultural producers of Nebraska.  Our best wishes on a successful trip.

Sincerely,

                                                          
Rep. José E. Serrano                           Rep. Barbara Lee                                Rep. Raúl Grijalva