Text
RONALD V. DELLUMS
WASHINGTON OFFICE
9TH DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA
scon
CARLOITIA A. w.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
RANKING MINORITY
CHARLES C. STEPHENSON, JR.
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
COMMIITEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY
REPLY TO
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DISTRICT OFFICE
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2108 RAYBURN H.0.B.
WASHINGTON, DC 20515
(202) 225-2661
Mnu.se nf iepre.sentatiue.s
1301 CLAY STREET
SUITE 1000-N
OAKLAND, CA 94612
(510) 763-0370
SANDRE R. SWANSON
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
H. LEE HAL TERMAN
GENERAL COUNSEL
September 18, 1995
WHY WE SHOULD VOTE AGAINST H.R. 927
Dear Colleagues:
H.R. 927, the "Cuban Liberty & Democratic Solidarity Act will probably be
considered tomorrow, Wednesday, September 20. H.R. 927 will further
tighten the embargo against Cuba and reinforce sanctions against foreign
nations and businesses to stop trading with Cuba. I urge you to vote against
it.
The overall effect of the bill on U.S. policy in the Caribbean may be best
addressed by remarks made by Gen. John J. Sheehan, Commander in Chief,
U.S. Atlantic Command, regarding a new security system for the Western
Hemisphere during his keynote address to the Caribbean Security Symposium on April 18, 1995 in Coral Gables, Florida.
The following are excerpts from the General's speech as reported, quoted by,
and commented upon by the U.S. Atlantic Command Press Release of the
same date. I will be happy to make the release available to you; please call
Ying Lee at 5-2261 for a copy.
"Cuba is not a military threat to the U.S. or the region; it is a social and
economic collapse of Cuba that I am concerned with .... U.S. interests in the
Caribbean are economic. The problems we deal with are illegal economic
migration and drugs."
"The general pointed out that the hemisphere's security is not threatened by external enemies but rather by environmental degradation, rapid
population growth, slow economic development and social imbalances."
"He also pointed out that the events of 1994 demonstrated that economic instability in the Caribbean and elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere,
will manifest itself in the form of a flood of legal and illegal migrants to more
developed nations. "
"Since my command, U.S. Atlantic Command, is responsible for caring
for tens of thousands of Cuban and Haitian refugees that fled their countries
last year and approximately 20,000 still remaining in temporary camps on the
U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, I can assure you that the economic and, in one case, the political difficulties of the region will eventually
become a major problem requiring vast resources for only temporary
solutions."
I believe that the General's comments reflect the reality that tightened
economic sanctions against Cuba will destabilize the region, to the detriment
of U.S. security interests. I urge you to consider his comments and to join
with me in opposing this bill.
ellurns
Member of Congress
WASHINGTON OFFICE
9TH DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA
scon
CARLOITIA A. w.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
RANKING MINORITY
CHARLES C. STEPHENSON, JR.
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
COMMIITEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY
REPLY TO
OFFICE CHECKED:
0
0
DISTRICT OFFICE
Qrongrtsn of t4t Nnitth ~atts
2108 RAYBURN H.0.B.
WASHINGTON, DC 20515
(202) 225-2661
Mnu.se nf iepre.sentatiue.s
1301 CLAY STREET
SUITE 1000-N
OAKLAND, CA 94612
(510) 763-0370
SANDRE R. SWANSON
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
H. LEE HAL TERMAN
GENERAL COUNSEL
September 18, 1995
WHY WE SHOULD VOTE AGAINST H.R. 927
Dear Colleagues:
H.R. 927, the "Cuban Liberty & Democratic Solidarity Act will probably be
considered tomorrow, Wednesday, September 20. H.R. 927 will further
tighten the embargo against Cuba and reinforce sanctions against foreign
nations and businesses to stop trading with Cuba. I urge you to vote against
it.
The overall effect of the bill on U.S. policy in the Caribbean may be best
addressed by remarks made by Gen. John J. Sheehan, Commander in Chief,
U.S. Atlantic Command, regarding a new security system for the Western
Hemisphere during his keynote address to the Caribbean Security Symposium on April 18, 1995 in Coral Gables, Florida.
The following are excerpts from the General's speech as reported, quoted by,
and commented upon by the U.S. Atlantic Command Press Release of the
same date. I will be happy to make the release available to you; please call
Ying Lee at 5-2261 for a copy.
"Cuba is not a military threat to the U.S. or the region; it is a social and
economic collapse of Cuba that I am concerned with .... U.S. interests in the
Caribbean are economic. The problems we deal with are illegal economic
migration and drugs."
"The general pointed out that the hemisphere's security is not threatened by external enemies but rather by environmental degradation, rapid
population growth, slow economic development and social imbalances."
"He also pointed out that the events of 1994 demonstrated that economic instability in the Caribbean and elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere,
will manifest itself in the form of a flood of legal and illegal migrants to more
developed nations. "
"Since my command, U.S. Atlantic Command, is responsible for caring
for tens of thousands of Cuban and Haitian refugees that fled their countries
last year and approximately 20,000 still remaining in temporary camps on the
U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, I can assure you that the economic and, in one case, the political difficulties of the region will eventually
become a major problem requiring vast resources for only temporary
solutions."
I believe that the General's comments reflect the reality that tightened
economic sanctions against Cuba will destabilize the region, to the detriment
of U.S. security interests. I urge you to consider his comments and to join
with me in opposing this bill.
ellurns
Member of Congress