In Wake of Hurricane Dennis, Serrano Introduces Resolution Calling For Temporary Easing of Restrictions

Washington, DC, July 12, 2005—Today, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) introduced a Congressional resolution asking the President to “temporarily suspend restrictions on remittances, gift parcels, and family travel to Cuba to allow Cuban-Americans to assist their relatives in Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis.”

The resolution comes in response to the devastation of Hurricane Dennis, which has destroyed homes, businesses, schools, clinics, and hospitals throughout and left many Cubans without electricity or water.  Many Cuban-Americans are desperate to help their families in need on the island.  However, current regulations place restrictions on the amount of money and even basic clothing or personal hygiene items that can be sent to help them. 

“Hurricane Dennis has brought profound pain and suffering to people in the Southeast and throughout the
Caribbean
,” said Serrano.  “Let’s put politics aside and temporarily relax the restrictions that are preventing Cuban-Americans from helping their families on the island.  It’s the right thing to do, and it’s something everyone should be able to agree upon.  This has been a terrible tragedy, and Cuban-Americans need to be allowed to help relieve some of the suffering of their families in .”

Current restrictions prohibit Cuban-Americans from traveling to more than once every three years.  They restrict the amount and frequency of remittances to their families in and also severely restrict gift parcels.  Packages of any type of clothing are explicitly prohibited, as are packages including seeds, soap-making equipment, tampons, or toilet paper. 

A text of the resolution will be made available shortly on the front page of Congressman Serrano’s website: http://www.house.gov/serrano.  Copies of the resolution are also available upon request.