A bill proposing to lift the more than 50-year-old trade embargo against Cuba has been introduced into the United States Senate, the latest in a string of developments that has put the relationship between the island country and U.S. in the spotlight. S.491, known as the Freedom to Export to Cuba Act is sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, with five co-sponsors joining on: Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyoming; Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan; Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona; Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois. The bill was introduced yesterday, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The bill comes on the heels of S.299, which was introduced on Jan. 29 by Sen. Flake and has already gathered 14 co-sponsors, including all five senators listed above. There is a corresponding version in the House of Representatives as well. While the full text of the bill has not been posted yet, it would effectively remove all legal barriers that currently prevent Americans from doing business with Cuba. It does not repeal portions of law that address human rights or property claims against the Cuban government, which were part of the Helms-Burton Act passed in 1996, ...
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