Unfortunately, on January 14, 2025, Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) reintroduced the FORCE Act (HR 450) which is now in committee.  This bill would block any U.S. president from removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list unless Cuba meets a series of sweeping political demands. Currently, the decision to remove a country from the list is based on national security assessments made by the State Department. But the FORCE Act would transfer authority to determine its removal from the list from the Executive Branch and the State Department to the Congress and legislative action.  This transfer of authority and the imposing of additional conditions will make it almost impossible for Cuba to be removed from the SSOT list.  It would lock in devastating sanctions that hurt everyday Cubans—making it harder to access food, medicine, and necessities—and strip future presidents of the ability to ease these restrictions.

Presidents Obama and Biden removed Cuba from the SSOT after multiple exhaustive studies indicated that Cuba is not engaging in terrorist activities.  In fact, Cuba continues to make international commitments to combat international terrorism, has ratified numerous international terrorism conventions, and has signed a bilateral agreement with the United States on counter-terrorism. Cuba has worked with the U.S. on other efforts, such as providing access to Cuban airspace to deliver aid to Haiti. Despite these facts, both Trump Administrations have put Cuba back on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism without any evidence that Cuba qualifies as a sponsor.

Beyond the already far-reaching US legislative sanctions and embargo imposed on Cuba since 1961, the SSOT further chokes and restricts the Cuban economy.  The SSOT imposes draconian financial restrictions by prohibiting U.S. and international banks from supporting trade and financial transactions, and by limiting the export of any goods to Cuba which contain more than 10% of US-made parts. The result has been the inability to import needed food, medicines and medical supplies, and equipment to repair and build the economy. 

 Cuban Presbyterian pastors have said that people are starving and dying for lack of medicine; doctors must choose which children will receive cancer treatment; there is no equipment to perform surgeries; jobs are lost for lack of materials, such as flour for bakeries.

Please speak up for the Cuban people today and urge your member of congress to oppose the FORCE Act (HR 450)!