{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/a-look-back-at-the-first-year-of-the-us-cuba-relationship-december-17-2014_-present", "A Look Back at the First Year of the U.S.-Cuba Relationship December 17, 2014 - Present", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.15\n\t\t\t A Look Back at the First Year of the U.S.-Cuba Relationship December 17, 2014 - Present \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tKey Actions and Accomplishments\r\nDecember 17, 2014: President Obama moves to normalize relations with Cuba.\r\n \r\nDecision follows 18 months of secret negotiations between U.S. and Cuba and the release of American aid contractor Alan Gross.\r\nAnnouncement of plans over the coming months to ease travel and financial restrictions on Cuba.\r\nPaves the way for U.S.-Cuba to restore diplomatic ties, reopen embassies, and potentially lift the embargo.\r\n \r\nJanuary 16, 2015: Departments of Commerce and Treasury announce regulatory changes to Cuba sanctions.\r\n \r\nThe amendments implement the changes President Obama announced on December 17, 2014.\r\n \r\nMarch 31, 2015: U.S. and Cuba hold first formal talks on human rights.\r\nApril 8, 2015: A public opinion poll of Cubans on the island is released; shows that an overwhelming majority of Cubans support an end to the embargo.\r\n \r\nNearly all Cubans (97 percent of those polled) believe normalization of the relationship between Cuba and the United States is good for Cuba.\r\n \r\nApril 11, 2015: Presidents Obama and Castro meet at the Summit of the Americas in Panama.\r\n \r\nMarks the first time the two nations' top leaders have sat down for substantive talks in more than 50 years. Both presidents agree it is time to end the embargo.\r\nThe inclusion of Cuba in the Summit of the Americas comes after Latin American countries pressured the United States to allow Cuba to participate.\r\n \r\nApril 20, 2015: Governor Andrew Cuomo leads delegation to Cuba.\r\n \r\nGovernor Andrew Cuomo leads a delegation of New York business owners and politicians to Havana.\r\nHis visit marks the first time a U.S. governor has travelled to the island since the U.S. and Cuba normalized relations.\r\nThe trip includes officials from JetBlue Airways, the Plattsburgh International Airport, Pfizer, MasterCard, and the founder of Chobani.\r\nThe trip leads to an agreement between Cuba's Center for Molecular Immunology and Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York to import a lung cancer vaccine and begin clinical trials in the United States.\r\n \r\nMay 4, 2015: New Cuba PAC launches.\r\n \r\nNew Cuba PAC pledges to donate to political candidates who support favorable policy toward ending the Cuban embargo.\r\n \r\nMay 29, 2015: United States removes Cuba from state terror sponsors list.\r\n \r\nPresident Obama informs Congress of his decision in mid-April; Congress has a 45-day review period.\r\nSome congressional Republicans oppose the move; however, they do not make any effort to block the decision.\r\nCuba had been on the list since 1982. Being listed subjects a country to U.S. restrictions on such things as foreign aid and defense sales.\r\n \r\nJune 18, 2015: Cuba expands Wi-Fi access across the island.\r\n \r\n35 Wi-Fi hotspots are created.\r\nPreviously, Wi-Fi was only available at tourist hotels at hourly prices that would amount to nearly a quarter of the average monthly salary for Cubans.\r\n \r\nJuly 2015: United States restores diplomatic ties with Cuba.\r\n \r\nOn July 1, President Obama announces that the U.S. and Cuba would reopen their embassies nearly 55 years since they first closed.\r\nOn July 20, diplomatic relations are officially re-established; Cuban embassy holds flag-raising ceremony in Washington. Engage Cuba hosts private dinner between Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodrguez-Parrilla and American business leaders.\r\nOn July 22, Engage Cuba hosts a briefing at the White House for the Cuban-American community about U.S.-Cuba relations.\r\n \r\nJuly 23, 2015: Senate Appropriations Committee approves three amendments favorable to lifting sanctions on Cuba.\r\n \r\nThe amendments would end restrictions on travel to Cuba, allow private financing for agricultural sales to Cuba, and lift restrictions on ships docking at Cuban ports.\r\n \r\nAugust 14, 2015: Secretary of State John Kerry presides over the flag-raising ceremony at American embassy in Havana.\r\n \r\nSec. Kerry's visit marks the first time in 70 years that a U.S. Secretary of State has visited Cuba.\r\n \r\nAugust 2015  October 2015: American airline companies announce new flights to Cuba\r\n \r\nAmerican Airlines and Cuba Travel Services announce a new charter service providing nonstop service from Los Angeles to Havana. American Airlines also begins offering a once-weekly flight from Miami to Havana in partnership with Cuban travel services.\r\nJetBlue announces the addition of a second charter flight from JFK to Havana\r\nDelta establishes charter flights from Atlanta to Havana, set to start April 2, 2016.\r\n \r\nSeptember 8, 2015: Leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump comes out in support of diplomatic reengagement with Cuba.\r\n \r\nTrump's stance means that for the first time in over a half-century, the leading presidential candidates from both parties support normalization; Hillary Clinton had stated her support a year prior.\r\n \r\nSeptember 18, 2015: Obama administration further eases travel and business restrictions against Cuba.\r\n \r\nThe announcement expands telecommunication opportunities in Cuba and allows certain American businesses to establish offices and bank accounts on the island.\r\nCuban businesses and residents are now able to set up offices and bank accounts in the United States.\r\nHowever, significant barriers to open trade and travel still exist with Congress' refusal to lift the embargo.\r\n \r\nSeptember 19, 2015: Pope Francis arrives in Cuba.\r\n \r\nThe Pope visits Cuba before coming to the United States. During his visit, he lauds the normalization process between the two countries.\r\n \r\nSeptember 2015  November 2015: Telecommunications contracts begin to be signed on the island.\r\n \r\nVerizon begins to offer voice and data roaming in Cuba through a third party.\r\nSprint signs an interconnection agreement with Cuba's state telecoms monopoly Etecsa.\r\n \r\nSeptember 28, 2015: Governor Asa Hutchinson leads Arkansas delegation to Cuba.\r\n \r\nGovernor Asa Hutchinson asks Congress to lift restrictions that prevent U.S. food companies from selling to Cuba on credit.\r\nThe measure, led by Senator John Boozman (R-AR), was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in July but has yet to receive a floor vote in the Senate and House.\r\nIn 2000, the U.S. authorized cash-only agricultural exports to Cuba, which brought $30 million in sales to Arkansas annually. Since Cuba prefers to buy on credit, sales have fallen.\r\n \r\nSeptember 29, 2015: Presidents Obama and Castro meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.\r\n \r\nFor the first time in more than 60 years, a U.S. president meets with a Cuban president on U.S. soil.\r\n \r\nOctober 6, 2015: Secretary of Commerce Pritzker makes official trip to Cuba.\r\n \r\nSec. Penny Pritzker becomes the second U.S. cabinet official to visit the island since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution.\r\nSec. Pritzker meets with the country's ministers of foreign affairs and foreign investment.\r\nSec. Pritzker tours Mariel, the site of a $1 billion investment to create a major shipping hub in Cuba.\r\n \r\nOctober 14, 2015: Nine state governors sign onto bipartisan letter supporting end to Cuban embargo.\r\n \r\nThe governors of Alabama, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Washington write letter to Congressional leadership highlighting the harm that the embargo has done to American agriculture exports.\r\n \r\nOctober 25, 2015: North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring leads North Dakota agriculture delegation to Cuba.\r\n \r\nNorth Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring leads a delegation of representatives from commodity, agricultural, and commerce organizations to the island.\r\nFull list of participants: North Dakota Department of Agriculture; Bank of North Dakota; Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.; Great Northern Ag; Northarvest Bean Growers Association; North Dakota Grain Growers Association; North Dakota Mill & Elevator; North Dakota Trade Office; North Dakota Wheat Commission; and Red River Farm Network.\r\n \r\nNovember 2, 2015: Cuba hosts annual international trade fair.\r\n \r\nIt is estimated that 50 U.S. companies attend the fair, more than ever before.\r\nCuba signs first-ever roaming agreement with U.S. telecom company Sprint Corp.\r\n \r\nNovember 17, 2015: Engage Cuba partners with the Atlantic Council to release a poll from America's Heartland voters profiling their opinions on Cuba.\r\n \r\nThe poll's findings show bipartisan support in Heartland states  Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee  for restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba, lifting the travel ban and ending the embargo.\r\n \r\nNovember 18, 2015: U.S. and Cuba sign historic environmental pact.\r\n \r\nThe agreement marks the first accord between the two countries since the announcement that they would be normalizing diplomatic relations.\r\nThe accord will protect nearby fish and marine life living off the coasts of both countries and allow U.S. and Cuban scientists to collaborate on research.\r\nCuba's marine ecosystem is considered one of the best preserved and most diverse in the world.\r\n \r\nNovember 19, 2015: Debit cards become available for use in Cuba.\r\n \r\nMasterCard and Stonegate Bank (based in Ft. Lauderdale) announce that their cards are now active for use in hotels, restaurants and other stores in Cuba.\r\nThey become the first financial institutions to take advantage of new business openings with Cuba.\r\nAmericans travelling to Cuba will be able to use these cards at 10,000 merchants that accept the cards.\r\nATM transactions will be available in 2016.\r\n \r\nNovember 29, 2015: Governor Greg Abbott leads Texas delegation to Cuba.\r\n \r\nGovernor Greg Abbott leads a delegation of Texas agriculture and port officials and local businesses to Cuba.\r\nWhile in Cuba, the delegation meets with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, the Port of Mariel, the Chamber of Commerce and two Cuban entities, Alimport and Cimex.\r\nTexas-Cuba trade relations have decreased over the years due to restrictions and regulations. If full trade were allowed, Texas could see an economic impact of $43 billion.\r\n \r\nDecember 7, 2015: Engage Cuba launches Tennessee State Council.\r\n \r\nThe 16-person council includes representatives from a range of industries, including agriculture, academia, manufacturing, business, and the arts.\r\n \r\nDecember 8, 2015: U.S. and Cuba hold the first round of discussions on mutual property claims.\r\n \r\nThe two governments begin negotiations over U.S. individuals' and companies' properties that were seized after the 1959 revolution; Cuba also presents counterclaims of economic damages stemming from the embargo.\r\n \r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tPress Contact  David Carle: 202-224-3693\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\n  \n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/a-look-back-at-the-first-year-of-the-us-cuba-relationship-december-17-2014_-present"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6461052000522614, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}