May 20, 1999
Washington - A debate over Cuba forced a House committee to abandon an attempt to lift sanctions on food and medicine exports to terrorist states. "It's nonsense not to lift these sanctions,'' said Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., contending that the prohibitions injure U.S. farmers already struggling with low prices and lagging exports this year. But Nethercutt's effort to repeal the sanctions failed on a 28-24 vote Wednesday among members of the House Appropriations Committee. Many lawmakers were concerned the measure would aid the Cuban government.
"I recognize that the agriculture community in the United States is going through difficult economic times,'' said Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., who was born in Cuba. "But I do not think taxpayer-financed trade with terrorist states is an appropriate way to try to help U.S. farmers.''
The Clinton administration last month opened the way for the sale of food and medical items to Iran, Libya and Sudan. The sales of certain items are already permitted to Iraq, North Korea and Cuba.
A 1992 law allows sales of medicine and medical supplies to Cuba with certain limitations. And in January, the Clinton administration also began allowing some regulated trade with Cuba in some food items and pesticides.
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