Export Freedom to Cuba Act of 2007

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange's letter to President Bush and to enter into the Record a copy of their letter.

On November 27, 2007, the U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange sent a letter to President Bush that expressed their desire to establish relations with Cuban artists and urged him to take steps to normalize interaction with Cuba. The letter was signed by several artists including Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, Carlos Santana, and Sean Penn. As of December 11, 2007, the letter has been signed by one thousand four hundred and twelve people.

I applaud the U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange for urging President Bush to change the U.S. policy towards Cuba and for raising awareness about how the policy impacts the artist community. Further, I support their movement, which would allow people from both countries to exchange and experience performing and literary arts.

Art in any form including, but not limited to dance, music, and poetry provides a mechanism where by people are able to express themselves, which ultimately represents their culture, identity, and voice. In addition to representing a culture, the selling of artistic goods provides a source of income for artists and substantially contributes to an economy, especially in the U.S.

The artists issue is part of the broader implications with the travel ban and trade embargo, which hurts the U.S. economically, politically, and socially. It is estimated that the U.S. economy loses millions of dollars annually due to the trade embargo. The lack of diplomatic relations prevents any effort to democratize Cuba. There is no way to quantify the cost paid by Cuban Americans who can't visit their loved ones freely.

The United States-Cuba policy is a failure, period. Change is needed now. I urge my colleagues to support my bills, H.R. 624 and H. R. 654, which would lift the embargo and travel ban.

U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange,

Albuquerque, NM, November 27, 2007.

President George W. Bush,

The White House,

Washington, DC.

Dear President Bush: We wish to bring to your attention the

accompanying letter, dated October 26, 2007, received from

Alicia Alonso, Prima Ballerina and Director of the Cuban

National Ballet, and also Goodwill Ambassador for the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO). Ms. Alonso has toured extensively in the United

States and her work has long been admired by the American

performing arts community, cultural critics and the public.

We are writing you as representatives of the cultural

sphere in the United States. We write you as American

citizens. We write to express our dismay at your

administration's continuing hostility towards Cuba. We write

to express our opposition to policies that keep us divided

from our Cuban counterparts, preventing cultural interchange

between our two countries. We believe the time has come to

move towards cooperation and constructive relations with

Cuba.

The present policies deny such possibilities of friendship

and cultural sharing. We further note that cultural

interchanges and relationships are also modes of

communication and expression. In denying us the possibility

of engaging in such exchanges and relationships, we are being

denied our fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1st, 5th

and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

This reality seems to run counter to other positions

expressed by your Administration. In September 2006, for

example, Laura Bush inaugurated your Administration's

``Global Cultural Initiative,'' stating that ``One of the

best ways we can deepen our friendships with the people of

all countries is for us to better understand each other's

culture by enjoying each other's literature, music, films and

visual arts.''

As citizens, artists, scholars, educators and cultural

workers from all artistic practices, academic disciplines,

advocacy and service organizations in the arts, we hope you

will read and consider the words of Alicia Alonso as we call

upon your Administration to:

1. open a respectful dialogue with the government and

people of Cuba in accord with established protocols supported

by the community of nations;

2. end the travel ban that prevents U.S. citizens from

visiting Cuba and allow for Cuban artists and scholars to

visit the United States, thus eliminating the censorship of

art and ideas, and

3. initiate, by working with appropriate members of

Congress, a process that can result in the development of

normal bilateral relations between our countries.

Supporters of Cultural Exchanges with Cuba:

Louis Head--Cuba Research and Analysis Group--Co-founder

US-Cuba Cultural Exchange.

Bill Martinez--Martinez & Associates--Co-founder US-Cuba

Cultural Exchange.

Cynthia Semon--Media consultant/music promoter--US-Cuba

Cultural Exchange.

James Early--Cultural Policy Specialist--U.S.-Cuba Cultural

Exchange.

Harry Belafonte--actor/singer.

Danny Glover--actor.

Sean Penn--actor.

Carlos Santana--musician.

(Plus more than 1,400 other signatories).