Home > 106th Congressional Bills > S. 1089 (rs) To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 for the United States Coast Guard, and for other purposes. [Reported in Senate] ...S. 1089 (rs) To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 for the United States Coast Guard, and for other purposes. [Reported in Senate] ...
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1089
To encourage multilateral cooperation and authorize a program of
assistance to facilitate a peaceful transition in Cuba, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 20, 2003
Mr. Ensign introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To encourage multilateral cooperation and authorize a program of
assistance to facilitate a peaceful transition in Cuba, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cuba Transition Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Cuban people are seeking change in their country,
including through the Varela Project, Concilio Cubano,
independent journalist activity, and other civil society
initiatives.
(2) Civil society groups and independent, self-employed
Cuban citizens will be essential to the consolidation of a
genuine and effective transition to democracy from an
authoritarian, communist government in Cuba, and therefore
merit increased international assistance.
(3) The people of the United States support a policy of
proactively helping the Cuban people to establish a democratic
system of government, including supporting Cuban citizen
efforts to prepare for transition to a better and more
prosperous future.
(4) Without profound political and economic changes, Cuba
will not meet the criteria for participation in the Summit of
the Americas process.
(5) The Inter-American Democratic Charter adopted by the
General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS)
provides both guidance and mechanisms for response by OAS
members to the governmental transition in Cuba and that
country's eventual reintegration into the inter-American
system.
(6) United States Government support of pro-democracy
elements in Cuba and planning for the transition in Cuba is
essential for the identification of resources and mechanisms
that can be made available immediately in response to profound
political and economic changes on the island.
(7) Consultations with democratic development institutions
and international development agencies regarding Cuba are a
critical element in the preparation of an effective
multilateral response to the transition in Cuba.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To support multilateral efforts by the countries of the
Western Hemisphere in planning for a transition of the
government in Cuba and the return of that country to the
Western Hemisphere community of democracies.
(2) To encourage the development of an international group
to coordinate multilateral planning to a transition of the
government in Cuba.
(3) To authorize funding for programs to assist the Cuban
people and independent nongovernmental organizations in Cuba in
preparing the groundwork for a peaceful transition of
government in Cuba.
(4) To provide the President with funding to implement
assistance programs essential to the development of a
democratic government in Cuba.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Democratically elected government in cuba.--The term
``democratically elected government in Cuba'' has the meaning
given the term in section 4 of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic
Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6023).
(2) Transition government in cuba.--The term ``transition
government in Cuba'' has the meaning given the term in section
4 of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act
of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6023).
SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF COORDINATOR FOR CUBA TRANSITION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall designate, within the
Department of State, a coordinator who shall be responsible for--
(1) designing an overall strategy to coordinate
preparations for, and a response to, a transition in Cuba;
(2) coordinating assistance provided to the Cuban people in
preparation for a transition in Cuba;
(3) coordinating strategic support for the consolidation of
a political and economic transition in Cuba;
(4) ensuring program and policy coordination among agencies
of the United States Government in carrying out the policies
set forth in this Act; and
(5) pursuing coordination with other countries and
international organizations, including international financial
institutions, with respect to assisting a transition in Cuba.
(b) Rank and Status of the Transition Coordinator.--The coordinator
designated in subsection (a) shall have the rank and status of
ambassador.
SEC. 6. MULTILATERAL INITIATIVES RELATED TO CUBA.
The Secretary of State is authorized to designate up to $5,000,000
of total amounts made available for contributions to international
organizations to be provided to the Organization of American States
for--
(1) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights activities
relating to the situation of human rights in Cuba;
(2) the funding of an OAS emergency fund for the deployment
of human rights observers, election support, and election
observation in Cuba as described in section 109(b) of the Cuban
Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22
U.S.C. 6039(b)(1)); and
(3) scholarships for Cuban students attending colleges,
universities, or other educational programs in member states of
the OAS.
SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Sense of Congress Regarding Consultation With Western
Hemisphere.--It is the sense of Congress that the President should
begin consultation, as appropriate, with governments of other Western
Hemisphere countries regarding a transition in Cuba.
(b) Sense of Congress Regarding Other Consultations.--It is the
sense of Congress that the President should begin consultations with
appropriate international partners and governments regarding a
multilateral diplomatic and financial support program for response to a
transition in Cuba.
SEC. 8. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE IN PREPARATION FOR A
TRANSITION IN CUBA.
(a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law
other than section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2394-1) and comparable notification requirements contained in
any Act making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing,
and related programs, the President is authorized to furnish an amount
not to exceed $15,000,000 in assistance and provide other support for
individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support
democracy-building efforts for Cuba, including--
(1) political prisoners and members of their families;
(2) persons persecuted or harassed for dissident
activities;
(3) independent libraries;
(4) independent workers' rights activists;
(5) independent agricultural cooperatives;
(6) independent associations of self-employed Cubans;
(7) independent journalists;
(8) independent youth organizations;
(9) independent environmental groups;
(10) independent economists, medical doctors, and other
professionals;
(11) in establishing and maintaining an information and
resources center to be in the United States interests section
in Havana, Cuba;
(12) prodemocracy programs of the National Endowment for
Democracy that are related to Cuba;
(13) nongovernmental programs to facilitate access to the
Internet, subject to section 102(g) of the Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C.
6032(g));
(14) nongovernmental charitable programs that provide
nutrition and basic medical care to persons most at risk,
including children and elderly persons; and
(15) nongovernmental charitable programs to reintegrate
into civilian life persons who have abandoned, resigned, or
been expelled from the Cuban armed forces for ideological
reasons.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Independent nongovernmental organization.--The term
``independent nongovernmental organization'' means an
organization that the Secretary of State determines, not less
than 15 days before any obligation of funds to the
organization, is a charitable or nonprofit nongovernmental
organization that is not an agency or instrumentality of the
Cuban Government.
(2) Eligible cuban recipients.--The term ``eligible Cuban
recipients'' is limited to any Cuban national in Cuba,
including political prisoners and their families, who are not
officials of the Cuban Government or of the ruling political
party in Cuba, as defined in section 4(10) of the Cuban Liberty
and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C.
6023(10)).
SEC. 9. SUPPORT FOR A TRANSITION GOVERNMENT IN CUBA.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to funds
otherwise available for such purposes, there are authorized to be
appropriated $30,000,000 to the President to establish a fund to
provide assistance to a transition government in Cuba as defined in
section 205 of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD)
Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6023).
(b) Designation of Fund.--The fund authorized in subsection (a)
shall be known as the ``Fund for a Free Cuba''.
(c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.
<all>
Pages: 1 Other Popular 106th Congressional Bills Documents:
|
| GovRecords.org presents information on various agencies of the United States Government. Even though all information is believed to be credible and accurate, no guarantees are made on the complete accuracy of our government records archive. Care should be taken to verify the information presented by responsible parties. Please see our reference page for congressional, presidential, and judicial branch contact information. GovRecords.org values visitor privacy. Please see the privacy page for more information. |
 |