{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://bass.house.gov/press-release/bass-applauds-moves-normalize-diplomatic-relations-cuba-release-alan-gross", "Rep. Bass Applauds Moves to Normalize Diplomatic Relations with Cuba, Release of Alan Gross", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LOS ANGELES\u2014Today, following the announcement of American Alan Gross\u2019 release from a Cuban prison after five years of incarceration, President Barack Obama announced significant changes in U.S. policy as it relates to Cuba to promote more effective change in Cuba that is consistent with U.S. support for the Cuban people and in line with U.S. national security interests. In addition to changing diplomatic relations, changes to remittance, trade and travel rules are also being proposed. These changes are the most dramatic since relations were severed in 1961.\n\u201cI am first and foremost absolutely thrilled to learn about the release of Alan Gross from prison in Cuba today,\u201d said Rep. Karen Bass, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. \u201cI look forward to today\u2019s announcement by President Obama, which signals a substantial first step in normalizing relations with Cuba. This is the most significant foreign policy action with our neighbor to the south in decades and I applaud the Obama Administration and all those who worked to make these changes a reality allowing for a free flow of ideas and trade, including a new avenue for agricultural businesses in California. We will also have the opportunity to test and share medical breakthroughs, particularly in the area of drugs that treat diabetes and long-term health concerns.\u201d\n\u00a0  \n\tKey Components of the Updated Policy Approach from the White House:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tEstablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba\n The President has instructed the Secretary of State to immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, which were severed in January 1961.\n\tIn the coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalization process.\u00a0 As an initial step, the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs will lead the U.S. Delegation to the next round of U.S.-Cuba Migration Talks in January 2015, in Havana.\n\tU.S. engagement will be critical when appropriate and will include continued strong support for improved human rights conditions and democratic reforms in Cuba and other measures aimed at fostering improved conditions for the Cuban people.\n\tThe United States will work with Cuba on matters of mutual concern and that advance U.S. national interests, such as migration, counternarcotics, environmental protection, and trafficking in persons, among other issues.\u00a0 \u00a0\n Adjusting regulations to more effectively empower the Cuban people\n The changes announced today will soon be implemented via amendments to regulations of the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce.\u00a0\u00a0 Our new policy changes will further enhance our goal of empowering the Cuban population.\n\tOur travel and remittance policies are helping Cubans by providing alternative sources of information and opportunities for self-employment and private property ownership, and by strengthening independent civil society.\u00a0\n\tThese measures will further increase people-to-people contact; further support civil society in Cuba; and further enhance the free flow of information to, from, and among the Cuban people.\u00a0 Persons must comply with all provisions of the revised regulations; violations of the terms and conditions are enforceable under U.S. law.\n \u00a0  \n\tFacilitating an expansion of travel under general licenses for the 12 existing categories of travel to Cuba authorized by law-\n General licenses will be made available for all authorized travelers in the following existing categories: (1) family visits; (2) official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; (3) journalistic activity; (4) professional research and professional meetings; (5) educational activities; (6) religious activities; (7) public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; (8) support for the Cuban people; (9) humanitarian projects; (10) activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; (11) exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and (12) certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines.\u00a0\n\tTravelers in the 12 categories of travel to Cuba authorized by law will be able to make arrangements through any service provider that complies with the U.S. Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations governing travel services to Cuba, and general licenses will authorize provision of such services.\u00a0\n\tThe policy changes make it easier for Americans to provide business training for private Cuban businesses and small farmers and provide other support for the growth of Cuba\u2019s nascent private sector.\u00a0 Additional options for promoting the growth of entrepreneurship and the private sector in Cuba will be explored.\n \u00a0  \n\tFacilitating remittances to Cuba by U.S. persons-\n Remittance levels will be raised from $500 to $2,000 per quarter for general donative remittances to Cuban nationals (except to certain officials of the government or the Communist party); and donative remittances for humanitarian projects, support for the Cuban people, and support for the development of private businesses in Cuba will no longer require a specific license.\n\tRemittance forwarders will no longer require a specific license.\n \u00a0  \n\tAuthorizing expanded commercial sales/exports from the United States of certain goods and services-\n The expansion will seek to empower the nascent Cuban private sector.\u00a0 Items that will be authorized for export include certain building materials for private residential construction, goods for use by private sector Cuban entrepreneurs, and agricultural equipment for small farmers.\u00a0 This change will make it easier for Cuban citizens to have access to certain lower-priced goods to improve their living standards and gain greater economic independence from the state.\n \u00a0  \n\tAuthorizing American citizens to import additional goods from Cuba-\n Licensed U.S. travelers to Cuba will be authorized to import $400 worth of goods from Cuba, of which no more than $100 can consist of tobacco products and alcohol combined.\n \u00a0  \n\tFacilitating authorized transactions between the United States and Cuba-\n U.S. institutions will be permitted to open correspondent accounts at Cuban financial institutions to facilitate the processing of authorized transactions.\n\tThe regulatory definition of the statutory term \u201ccash in advance\u201d will be revised to specify that it means \u201ccash before transfer of title\u201d; this will provide more efficient financing of authorized trade with Cuba.\n\tU.S. credit and debit cards will be permitted for use by travelers to Cuba.\n\tThese measures will improve the speed, efficiency, and oversight of authorized payments between the United States and Cuba.\n \u00a0  \n\tInitiating new efforts to increase Cubans\u2019 access to communications and their ability to communicate freely-\n Cuba has an internet penetration of about five percent\u2014one of the lowest rates in the world.\u00a0 The cost of telecommunications in Cuba is exorbitantly high, while the services offered are extremely limited.\n\tThe commercial export of certain items that will contribute to the ability of the Cuban people to communicate with people in the United States and the rest of the world will be authorized.\u00a0 This will include the commercial sale of certain consumer communications devices, related software, applications, hardware, and services, and items for the establishment and update of communications-related systems.\n\tTelecommunications providers will be allowed to establish the necessary mechanisms, including infrastructure, in Cuba to provide commercial telecommunications and internet services, which will improve telecommunications between the United States and Cuba.\n \u00a0  \n\tUpdating the application of Cuba sanctions in third countries-\n U.S.-owned or -controlled entities in third countries will be generally licensed to provide services to, and engage in financial transactions with, Cuban individuals in third countries.\u00a0 In addition, general licenses will unblock the accounts at U.S. banks of Cuban nationals who have relocated outside of Cuba; permit U.S. persons to participate in third-country professional meetings and conferences related to Cuba; and, allow foreign vessels to enter the United States after engaging in certain humanitarian trade with Cuba, among other measures.\n \u00a0  \n\tPursuing discussions with the Cuban and Mexican governments to discuss our unresolved maritime boundary in the Gulf of Mexico-\n Previous agreements between the United States and Cuba delimit the maritime space between the two countries within 200 nautical miles from shore.\u00a0 The United States, Cuba, and Mexico have extended continental shelf in an area within the Gulf of Mexico where the three countries have not yet delimited any boundaries.\n\tThe United States is prepared to invite the governments of Cuba and Mexico to discuss shared maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico.\n \u00a0  \n\tInitiating a review of Cuba\u2019s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism-\n The President has instructed the Secretary of State to immediately launch such a review, and provide a report to the President within six months regarding Cuba\u2019s support for international terrorism.\u00a0 Cuba was placed on the list in 1982.\n \u00a0  \n\tAddressing Cuba\u2019s participation in the 2015 Summit of the Americas in Panama-\n President Obama will participate in the Summit of the Americas in Panama.\u00a0 Human rights and democracy will be key Summit themes.\u00a0 Cuban civil society must be allowed to participate along with civil society from other countries participating in the Summit, consistent with the region\u2019s commitments under the Inter-American Democratic Charter.\u00a0 The United States welcomes a constructive dialogue among Summit governments on the Summit\u2019s principles.\u00a0\n \u00a0###", 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": ["http://bass.house.gov/press-release/bass-applauds-moves-normalize-diplomatic-relations-cuba-release-alan-gross"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5148569364100695, "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"}