January 12, 2021

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Trump Administration’s Designation of Cuba as State Sponsor of Terror

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the Trump administration’s designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism:

“It is outrageous that Trump has named Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism.  The failed policy of punishing the Cuban people for narrow political advantage will only cause further suffering among Cubans, and place new barriers between Cubans and their relatives in the US.  This action will have its greatest impact on the people of the United States and Cuba, by impeding on American’s right to travel and making it harder for the people of Cuba to earn a living and shape their own future.

“It is particularly hypocritical given Trump’s own personal efforts to seek business opportunities in Cuba, and Trump’s own words of praise for dictators around the world. 

 “I look forward to working with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues in Congress, as well as the Biden administration, to reverse this decision and build upon president Obama’s policy to engage in diplomacy to resolve our differences.”