GOP Senator Opposes New Push to Remove Cuba From Terrorism List
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., urged the Biden administration late Nov. 25 to resist a push from House Democrats to remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list.
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The delisting proposal ignores that the Cuban government “harbors terrorists, provides a secret police force to [Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduro to oppress the Venezuelan people, and hosts a Chinese Communist Party spy station 90 miles from Florida,” Scott said.
Scott made his comments after 18 House members urged President Joe Biden in a Nov. 15 letter to remove the terrorism designation to help the island country cope with “widespread blackouts and an escalating energy crisis, exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Rafael,” which struck in early November. Removing the designation would “reduce barriers to oil shipments and clarify that carriers and insurers can operate legally in Cuba, facilitating access to energy and economic relief for the Cuban people,” the letter says.
The letter, which was led by Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Jim McGovern, D-Mass.; Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.; and Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, also calls for easing sanctions that hinder the flow of humanitarian aid, including by restoring a license exception to allow donations to Cuban health and humanitarian relief entities, and by issuing "safe harbor" letters stating that aid will not result in sanctions enforcement. The lawmakers also recommended fast-tracking exports of equipment needed to repair and upgrade Cuba’s energy grid.
A State Department official said in July that the administration was not formally reviewing Cuba’s terrorism designation, which subjects the country to certain sanctions and trade restrictions (see 2406280003). But the official did not rule out such a review in the future.
The administration eased some Cuba restrictions in May. It removed Cuba from its list of countries that aren’t cooperating fully with U.S. counterterrorism efforts, and it gave some in Cuba’s private sector access to the U.S. financial system (see 2405170040 and 2405280033).
A bill that Scott and Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., reintroduced in January 2023 would block Cuba's removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list.