Chairs Lee, Meeks, & McGovern Issue Statement Regarding the Biden Administration Providing Humanitarian Assistance to Cuba
Washington, D.C. – Today, Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Barbara Lee (D-CA), together with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and Chair of the Rules Committee James P. McGovern (D-MA), issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration’s decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian:
“We applaud the Biden Administration’s sound decision to provide $2 million in humanitarian assistance to the people of Cuba as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Providing U.S. assistance through international organizations to support vulnerable Cubans is both the right policy response and represents an important change from the previous Administration’s counterproductive actions.
“We remain deeply concerned about the dire situation on the island, including ongoing power shortages and the lack of basic necessities for the Cuban people. The United States is the world’s leader in providing life-saving assistance to other countries following natural disasters, and today’s announcement helps to demonstrate to citizens within our own hemisphere that the U.S. remains ready and willing to help those in need.
“As the Chairs of the relevant foreign policy Committees and Subcommittees, we fully support the Administration’s decision to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Cuba, and we stand ready to assist in its immediate delivery.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking Black woman in the U.S. Congress.