Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) praised the President’s decision to rescind Cuba’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation. “Cuban families, including many of our neighbors in the Tampa area, businesses and educators will benefit as both countries cast off outdated Cold War policies that limit interaction and progress on economic and human rights reform,” she said.

U.S. Rep. Castor called for Cuba’s removal from the terrorism list in 2013 upon her return from a fact-finding trip to Cuba and discussions with families and experts. She relayed her recommendation in a letter to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.

“I expect the Tampa Bay area to seize the opportunity to lead on engagement and encourage human rights and economic reforms in Cuba,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “As Americans, we fought two wars with Germany, fought a bloody conflict with Vietnam and have moved forward over time to the benefit of the people of those countries. It is long past time that we do the same for the people of Cuba.” 

Two weeks ago, U.S. Rep. Castor organized a well-attended forum with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and Tampa International Airport, where U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker stressed the importance of engagement. Local travel and trade experts shared experiences and hopes for renewed relations under a new legal framework. The terrorism listing for Cuba was cited as a huge stumbling block.

“Cuba’s listing as a state sponsor of terrorism has prevented our state universities from engaging in meaningful exchanges with their counterparts on the island and has created unnecessary banking hurdles for those travelling or doing business in Cuba,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “Removing Cuba from the list will not only ease these burdens for Americans, it will, at a critical moment, strengthen the credibility of our policy against terrorism.”

U.S. Rep. Castor added:  “Cuba is changing. America’s new policy of engagement is intended to empower the Cuban people and encourage the Cuban government to go further and faster. Our neighbors here in Tampa can visit and better support their families on the island due to the reforms. Cubans now have a greater ability to visit their relatives in the United States as well. Small businesses, the tourism industry and Tampa International Airport also have seen a boost in jobs and economic opportunities and are poised to take further advantage of broadening travel and trade to the island nation.” 

Last year, U.S. Rep. Castor brought the Cuban Chief of Mission Jose Cabañas to Tampa to discuss greater engagement and economic reforms. U.S. Rep. Castor also met with U.S. Chief of Mission to Cuba Jeffrey DeLaurentis last month in Washington, D.C. to discuss progress on diplomatic relations and a potential Cuban consulate in Tampa.

U.S. Rep. Castor has been working with President Obama since he was elected to modernize relations with the island, writing to then President-Elect Obama about travel to Cuba, calling for him to lift the restrictions that limit family travel to the island nation. She also is sponsoring legislation to lift the travel ban on Americans and successfully pushed the Administration to designate Tampa International Airport as an entry/exit point for charter flights to the island nation. 

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