On July 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee considered and approved its version of the FY 2016 Financial Services Appropriations bill, which included consideration of several amendments to improve the U.S. relationship with Cuba. Specifically, the Committee adopted amendments that would: prohibit funds from being used to ban travel of U.S. citizens to Cuba, from Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS)); eliminate a financing barrier to trade by allowing for the use of private credit for the sale of agricultural commodities to Cuba, from Senator John Boozman (R-AR) based on legislation introduced by Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Boozman; and repeal the 180 prohibition on vessels that have traveled to Cuba from loading or unloading freight in the U.S. without a license, from Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). NAWG applauds adoption of amendments to enable U.S. wheat farmers to export to Cuba and continues to advocate for expanding trading opportunities through stand-alone legislation and the Appropriations process.
Source: NAWG
SmallGrains.org, August 17, 2015
