WASHINGTON — A group of Republicans in Congress wants to give the president widespread authority to sanction non-Cubans who do business with the country’s defense, security and intelligence sectors, the latest policy response from Washington after widespread pro-democracy protests in Cuba in July.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that he’s introducing the Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus (DEMOCRACIA) Act. Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is introducing identical legislation in the U.S House.
Miami’s entire Cuban American contingent in Congress is backing the bill. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and GOP U.S. Reps. Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart and Maria Elvira Salazar are co-sponsoring the legislation.
“The Castro regime harbors terrorist groups, has eliminated free and fair elections, threatens and arbitrarily arrests critics, journalists and political activists, and props up other ruthless dictators, like Maduro in Venezuela and Ortega in Nicaragua,” Scott said in a statement. “As the Cuban people’s fight for freedom from the oppressive and illegitimate communist Cuban regime continues, the United States must stand up for Cuban democracy. The DEMOCRACIA Act implements severe sanctions against Communist Cuba and closes existing sanctions gaps.”
In August, President Joe Biden sanctioned leaders from the Cuban National Revolutionary Police, Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces and Ministry of Interior for their role in the violent crackdown of anti-government protesters. But the ongoing U.S. embargo prevents most regime officials from accessing U.S. markets.
The new legislation, if passed, would give the president wide-ranging authority to issue sanctions on U.S. allies and adversaries alike who do business with Havana.
For example, a Canadian company that enters into a contract with Cuba’s military-controlled tourism sector would be potentially subject to sanctions, along with Russian companies who develop Cuba’s oil infrastructure.
The bill would also subject foreign individuals to potential sanctions if they do business with an entity that is owned at least 25% by an Cuban individual sanctioned by the U.S. government or a military contractor operating on behalf of the Cuban government.
“Expanding from existing legislation, the DEMOCRACIA Act seeks to impose a cost on individuals who continue to oppress the people of Cuba,” Rubio said in a statement. “From their puppet leader, [Miguel] Díaz-Canel, to their GAESA [Armed Forces Business Enterprises Group] cronies, the Cuban dictatorship has continued to illegally enrich itself while everyday Cubans remain targets of oppression, censorship, and human rights violations.”
The sanctions are terminated if Cuba releases political prisoners and holds free and fair elections.
Unless the bill achieves significant Democratic support, it is unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in the current Congress. But the legislation is the latest attempt from Republicans to continue pressuring the Biden administration to do more on Cuba after the unprecedented protests across Cuba prompted demonstrations in South Florida and Washington.
Gimenez said the Biden administration has “mishandled” Cuba policy despite the president keeping in place former President Donald Trump’s sanctions after vowing during his campaign to change course.
“The United States must have a strong posture against the evil, communist Castro regime and maintain a firm and unequivocal commitment to the freedom-seeking Cuban people,” Gimenez said. “By sanctioning individuals within the apparatus of power of the Communist Party of Cuba, we are sending a clear message to the Cuban people and around the world that we stand firmly on the side of political and economic freedom.”
Zero Democrats are among the bill’s initial co-sponsors, which also include Republican Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Roger Marshall of Kansas along with U.S. Reps. Brian Babin of Texas and Alex Mooney of West Virginia.
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