The Next Steps on Cuba: Rep. Barbara Lee Pushes for End to Embargo & U.S Travel Restrictions
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Next Steps on Cuba: Rep. Barbara Lee Pushes for End to Embargo & U.S Travel Restrictions
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As the United States prepares to reopen its embassy in Havana, we speak to Rep. Barbara Lee, who has been rumored to be a frontrunner to become U.S. ambassador to Cuba. Lee has traveled to Cuba over 20 times since the 1970s and has co-sponsored the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act and Free Trade with Cuba Act.
Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: So, Congressmember Lee, speaking of issues that people have worked hard on, you have worked extremely hard on changing the U.S. relationship with Cuba. The embassies are about to open—U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. It has been talked about that you were interested in being the U.S. ambassador to Cuba, the first one, right now in this new era. Would you accept that position if President Obama nominated you?
REP. BARBARA LEE: No, let me tell you what happened. There was an article in the Matier/Ross column. They wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle some gossip, I guess, a rumor or—I don’t know where they got this from. They said that I had a gentlewoman’s agreement with the president that I would be the first ambassador to Cuba. That is just not the case. That is not true.
I represent some great constituents in the 13th Congressional District. There’s a lot of work to do in Congress. And so I intend to continue working to represent my constituency in Congress and continue to try to help lift this embargo, because, you know, that’s going to take legislative action, as well as lifting the travel ban. The president has come a long way and done everything he can do. I’ve been to Cuba over 20 times, beginning in the '70s. I think ’76, ’77. And I've worked very hard to get us to this point, with other members. But we’ve been doing this for many, many years. And so, now this is a sea change, once again. But I—these rumors, you know how they get started. And, you know, I intend to stay here in Congress and continue to work to represent my constituents, which, I have to—
More:
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/7/9/the_next_steps_on_cuba_rep
