Sample) RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF Bloomington SEEKING AN END TO THE UNITED STATES’ ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA
WHEREAS, in 1960, the United States government imposed an economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. embargo against Cuba continues to inflict hardship on the men, women and children of Cuba by creating shortages of food, medicines and financial and trade opportunities; and
WHEREAS, IN 1999 the City of Bloomington adopted a resolution to have Santa Clara Cuba as a sister city which was visited by three city council members, (Hopkins, Pizzo and Gaal), the following year
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced a new era of relations between the two countries and agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and their respective embassies reopened the following year; and
WHEREAS, restrictions on trade and travel to Cuba were more severely restricted under the Trump administration including cessation of flights from the US to Santa Clara; and
WHEREAS, the formerly waived title lll of the 1996 Helms Burton Act went into effect under President Trump as did designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism creating devastating results for Cubans and undermining trade between Cuba and other sovereign nations; and
WHEREAS, for the 29th consecutive year United Nations General Assembly in June 2021 called for an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the U.S. against Cuba, with only two votes in opposition, and
WHEREAS there is currently a pandemic with continuing contagion in both Cuba and the US, and.
WHEREAS, Cuba has produced five vaccines with high efficacy rates but lacks the raw materials to adequately increase production or administer the vaccine based on extraterritorial restrictions of US law limiting imports, and
WHEREAS both food and common medicines are in short supply and
President Biden has not prioritized action to reverse former President Trump’s
sanctions on Cuba, and
WHEREAS President Biden says he stands with the Cuban people as they protested July 2021, yet does not take the humane and obvious actions to reduce their suffering but condemns the sovereign nation’s government, and
WHEREAS, the majority of the people of the United States believe this embargo is ineffective, inhumane and in violation of U.S. laws and international conventions, and
WHEREAS, trade and cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Cuba are mutually beneficial to both countries in music, art, tourism, healthcare, education, biotechnological and medical research, and
WHEREAS despite the hardships imposed by the embargo Cuba has developed a lung vaccine and a treatment for diabetes that can preclude amputation that would be available in the US were the blockade to be lifted, and
WHEREAS Both nations could benefit from resumed trade with U.S. farmers eager to engage in trade with Cuba but are limited by the sanctions. Visiting Cuban officials to Indiana in February 2020 had a fruitful meeting with the Department of Agricultural Economic development branch and all are eager to move forward, and
WHEREAS, resolutions CALLING FOR AN END TO THE EMBARGO have been adopted by Richmond, Oakland, Berkeley, & Sacramento, Calif.; Seattle, Washington; Helena, Montana; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Brookline & Boston, Massachusetts; Hartford & New Haven, Connecticut and Chicago, Illinois.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Bloomington hereby calls for an immediate end to the United States’ economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba including restrictions on travel to Cuba by US citizens, and removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Bloomington urge President Biden to renew engagement of negotiations with the Cuban government as initiated by the policy of past Presidents to build a new, cooperative relationship between the United States and Cuba and reestablish the diplomatic staffing of the US Embassy in Havana and reinstatement of diplomatic staff at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC. and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Bloomingtonand the Mayor concurring, sends copies of this resolution to Representative Hollingsworth and Senators Young and Braun and engage Congress in passing legislation that would completely repeal the blockade and travel ban.
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