![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmXiiyVSWsMRCdtDRM9EAKnZG1V1E93v6Av6tXVuJ2XQgH/f6ps6l_aaaieqnn.jpeg) _{Mario Díaz-Balart, representative of the Florida’s 26th congressional district ([source](https://twitter.com/CarlosP27531573/status/1705295159053910395) of the image).} For years, the **U.S. Congress** has been the main stumbling block to improving relations between Washington and Havana. Especially since 1996, when **Bill Clinton** —partly forced by circumstances— [handed over](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/WCPD-1996-03-18/pdf/WCPD-1996-03-18-Pg478.pdf) to a then-Republican Capitol the keys to the [sanctions regime](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-515) instituted by Eisenhower first and Kennedy later, between 1960 and 1963. In any case, except in specific areas, the White House retained broad powers to apply the relevant legislation in such a flexible approach that it would end up ignoring it. **Obama** was partly a sample of this, but always taking small steps that did not compromise the backbone of that instrument that some —those who sympathize with the **Cuban Revolution**— call *blockade*, and others —those who actively or passively oppose it— *embargo*. I'm out of the latter discussion, which seems to me to be useful only from the perspective of the law since it's more important to me that people understand the content of this humongous sanctioning regime.
Within the Congress, a small —but somehow influential— group of politicians of Cuban origin are the zealous guardians of all legislative language related to **Cuba** there, procuring spaces of power that are strategic in that purpose (already the mere fact of being a Senator in certain cases, appealing to the use of the [filibuster](https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/filibusters-cloture.htm), confers a tool of inestimable value). Let us quickly review. **Mario Díaz-Balart** —nephew, in those twists of history, of **Fidel Castro**'s first wife— is the [flamboyant Chairman](https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses) of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the decisive **House Committee on Appropriations**, which in recent years has ended up being the one who sets, beyond funds, certain key aspects of foreign policy to be followed by the **State Department**, **[NED](https://www.ned.org/)** and **USAID**, and therefore how diplomacy towards Cuba and the regime change programs protected by the **[Helms-Burton Act](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section6039&num=0&edition=prelim)** are developed. **María Elvira Salazar**, who entered the lower chamber in the 117th Congress, is already [the Chairwoman](https://salazar.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses) of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration and International Economic Policy, of the also critical **House Foreign Affairs Committee**, which administers the same sensitive issues above related.
In the Senate we will find **Marco Rubio**, a former presidential candidate —albeit with very poor performance—, currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Ranking member of the Subcommittee On Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, & Global Women's Issues, from the **Committee on Foreign Relations** (which has if anything more power than its House counterpart), and even as a member also in the **Committee on Appropriations**. In the referred Senate Foreign Relations Committee, among other assignments, **[Bob Menéndez](https://www.menendez.senate.gov/about/committees)** —who today has been in the news because of a [new corruption indictment](https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23989441/us_v_menendez_et_al_indictment.pdf)— serves as the Chairman. With this quartet oriented to torpedo any progress, you can imagine the barrier to any attempt to improve relations with Cuba from the law.

Menendez has had a de facto veto on US Cuba policy, piling sanction after sanction on an impoverished people wrapped in the language of democratic values while supporting the Egyptian dictatorship for personal gain. A little too on the nose. https://t.co/oAJCnwzV63
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) September 22, 2023

I tell you a story in this regard as a sample button. In 2016, a few months after Obama's historic visit to Cuba, the House of Representatives was discussing an interesting legislative bill [comprising](https://www.congress.gov/114/crpt/hrpt639/CRPT-114hrpt639.pdf) two amendments related to the Island, both in a positive plan and, to more astonishment, signed by members of the **Republican Party** itself. [The first](https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/CRAWFO_063_xml62016112304234.pdf), sponsored by **[Rick Crawford](https://crawford.house.gov/resources/cuba-trade)**, blocked in practice the application of §7207(b) of the **[Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title22/chapter79&edition=prelim)**, that prohibits financing of authorized agricultural sales to Cuba. [The second](https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/SANFOR_106_xml620161132223222.pdf), advanced by **[Mark Sanford](https://www.marksanford.com/)**, already out of Congress and in the antipodes with **Donald Trump**, suspended the application of those sections of the law and regulations that prohibit U.S. tourism in Cuba.
Both congressmen, who could not be sensibly accused of being pro-communist at all, defended their criteria based on the freedom of choice that *should* correspond to the American citizen. It seemed then that there was consensus around the amendments, however, the concomitance between figures such as Diaz-Balart and the Republican leadership, which actively and decisively opposed their advancement, made this effort capitulate —without even coming to a single vote on any— (search for references to "Cuba" [here](https://www.congress.gov/114/crec/2016/07/06/CREC-2016-07-06-pt1-PgH4460-2.pdf) and [here](https://www.congress.gov/114/crec/2016/07/07/CREC-2016-07-07-pt1-PgH4523.pdf) to see its ending). In other words, for a rare occasion when even two Republican congressmen —whose party in principle always favors tough, stick politics— promoted a different approach, these Cuban-Americans took it upon themselves to pull down the shutter.

## The pen of Díaz-Balart: assessing a hawkish House report Above in the title I refer to the "stick" of Diaz-Balart playing with that classic political strategy of the stick and the carrot. These congressmen, when it comes to Cuba, don't even seek to move in *smart* mode (with that alleged balance between soft and hard approaches), but only think about what the Trump team —under their influence, coinciding with **John Bolton**'s stay in the West Wing— called "[maximum pressure policy](https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-comments-on-recent-travel-restrictions-to-cuba/)". When the Republican Party takes control, particularly of the House of Representatives, Diaz-Balart has the possibility of putting his stamp directly on the appropriations legislation that, from the correspondent standing Committee, is up to approve the budget of the State Department. Just for reference, notice how simple foreign policy is from his worldview (this is from today):

.@MarioDB, Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on this year's SFOPS appropriations bill:@HouseAppropsGOP is providing for America's allies while curbing the reach of its adversaries. pic.twitter.com/SoU2hsekhr
— House Rules Committee (@RulesReps) September 22, 2023

The [report](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-118hrpt146/pdf/CRPT-118hrpt146-pt1.pdf) on the referred legislative project, signed by him, contains several references to Cuba which, if printed in the final version of State Department appropriations act, would imply, for example, the withdrawing of funding from the **Pan American Health Organization**, in retaliation for a program that the organization managed in coordination with the Cuban and Brazilian governments, through which a group of doctors from the Island provided health services in the South American giant, mainly in remote rural areas. Based on the conditions of the contract and what the Cuban doctor finally receives as remuneration, the U.S. government, and particularly congressmen like Salazar, Menéndez, and Rubio, refer to this dynamic [as trafficking or modern-day slavery](https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-colleagues-call-for-investigation-into-mexico-s-trafficking-of-cuban-doctors-violation-of-usmca/) (in another section of the report, it provides for "restrictions to assistance for countries and organizations that benefit from trafficked Cuban doctors").
I am very familiar with this kind of program, as I was personally assigned to **Venezuela** to provide IT services in support of the Cuban medical mission there in 2010. The government, yes, gets a cut from each professional abroad —a thing that it *claims* is in the interest of the nation's most urgent needs—, but the money received at the end by the professional ends up being far enough for the improvement of his/her standard of living upon arrival in the country, because of its unique context (for example, people tend to acquire or upgrade their homes, and equip them). It is debatable the fact of the percentage assumed by the Government, which yes, we could agree that it is disproportionate, as well as the lack of transparency in its spending (in any case, while the Brazilian program was active, until **Jair Bolsonaro** climbed on the wave of rhetoric and sanctions from the Oval Office, the increase in the level of supply of food products here was noticeable).
### On federal broadcasts aimed at Cuba As regards the [Radio and TV Martí broadcasts](https://www.usagm.gov/networks/ocb/), projects of the Reagan-Bush (father) era in which [close to 1 billion dollars](https://ecency.com/hive-122315/@limonta/us-democracy-program-aimed-to) have been invested since 1985 —deserving of a better destiny, don't you think?—, and which are aimed at "bringing the truth about Cuba" to us, naive and ignorant citizens —irony ON—, Diaz-Balart, I mean, the House of Representatives, proposes to triple the funds allocated in the previous fiscal year, taking the figure to 35 million dollars. I can assure you that the number of fellow citizens who listen to these radio broadcasts —the television was never seen— is statistically negligible. Recognizing this, they have turned their focus to social networks in recent years, but their impact is still far insufficient for their intended purpose. Although it has never really been about how efficient these broadcasts are, but rather about sustaining that support in a symbolic, and I suppose practical way at the same time for certain groups in Florida who benefit from this historical dynamic (I know it doesn't work that way, but I sometimes think about how many citizens in the United States itself, indebted students perhaps, could better benefit from this wasted money).
![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmRk9hQEtUCoqCpvYoxe5BsSv9Y3ZCbUP1jXQYeyjdrYdq/dlpdzycu4aukhcr.jpeg) _{Díaz-Balart visiting the Marti station in 2018 ([source](https://twitter.com/MarioDB/status/1032412665799430145/photo/4)).} In this same area, 5 million dollars are proposed "to enable innovative methodologies for breaking the information blocks and internet shutdowns administered by the Cuban regime[,] in an effort to match [**[Open Technology Fund](https://www.usagm.gov/networks/otf/)**]'s positive gains in other parts of the world". This has to do with the outbursts of protests or concretions of the latter that originate in the country, which are usually accompanied by a national/regional blackout of Internet access. It is debatable how the Cuban government manages these events, but there is a *plausible argument* in Washington's policy and how it is encouraged, mainly from Miami, with open calls —trying to take advantage of these contexts— to popular rebellion, many times manipulating reality by overstating what is happening or making very limited and inaccurate assessments of the causes that lead people to protest. On the other hand, the provision proposed by the lower chamber at some point disrespects Cuba's right to manage these Internet policy issues in a sovereign manner. Finally in this direction, there would be 5 million *more* for **[USAGM](https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-are/history/)** —the agency that oversees Radio and TV Marti—, to distribute news and information about Cuba "through its networks and operations", employing the **Office of Cuba Broadcasting** —the division directly operating the referred stations— in the production of that content, without prejudice to its appropriated funds.
### Democracy programs The red House Appropriations Committee always tries to run up to $30 million in appropriations for regime-change-oriented programs in Cuba, administered by USAID, NED, and the State Department's quietly very active **Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor**. In a rare provision, it prohibits, for the first time since I have been following this issue, Foggy Bottom's **Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs** from getting involved in this gamble. They further specify that the funds "shall not be used for business promotion, economic reform, entrepreneurship, or any other assistance that is not democracy-building," in a retreat from the approach that [was approved last year](https://www.congress.gov/117/crpt/hrpt401/CRPT-117hrpt401.pdf), when $5 million were earmarked to promote private initiative. If the Cuban Republicans embrace the stick, the Democrats go the carrot route, apparently under the belief that greater interaction between Americans and Cubans, and decisive support to the private sector that shakes the balance with the state in its favor, is a more effective way or at least worth trying to overthrow the Cuban political regime. In addition, it is imposed that those programs that exceed $1 million in their budget must choose organizations that have experience in the Cuban case, which may lead to a monopolization of the market —which it is, literally— of "democratic assistance" to Cuba. Could there be some corruption here? At least it seems to me a reasonable doubt.
![Fu2gNp0WAAIBx0c.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/limonta/23y8unWMLJdxajTXneeiDNdL88Wpua7dpQ9oe7pZegii5mdvfKUeihhcW1As5TAdk2nrt.jpeg) _{[Source](https://twitter.com/ARodriguezAP/status/1652152992508923907)} ## Final comment It is very difficult for Diaz-Balart's bill to end up becoming law. Usually, when there is a contradiction between the versions of both chambers in this matter, the proposals are simplified and the "status quo" is maintained, that is: 20 million dollars for the "democracy programs" and nothing more. The Senate has recently been calmer, and if anything, even being Republican, more *revolutionary* in its strategy towards Havana; this time [its report on State Dept appropriations legislation](https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy24_sfops_report.pdf) don't have any sound reference to Cuba. Anyway, it is necessary to be aware of the end of this process, extremely hot in the very House of Representatives because of a rebellion against the Speaker, led by a gang from his party. But even if they can't fix its vision on Cuba in the resultant act, this chorus of Cuban-American politicians will continue for the time to come blocking any opportunity for at least a more formal relationship between our countries. Against that, only another much more determined Obama-type president, also in his second term to avoid electoral risks —which are no longer so much in a **Florida** that is increasingly moving away from its pendular condition—, could do something. See you there.
![](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/limonta/23t8ASA8AdcPCyoAEQS6tG65q1CzRydBimNpErqcFA67Cfy5DgtZuxsZR5KNoe4P9BeE2.gif) _{Edited with [Canva](https://www.canva.com/design/DAFeWgJk2ZY/yBj8yxag10qunKlgWYBJQg/edit?utm_content=DAFeWgJk2ZY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton).} [![09.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/janetedita/23tHbKgyShCEmxpHJ77QhRbTNYnTK3AsEu1mRRgfVcKPcFk4xq1TW4GVY4UBSR9qmgjZs.gif)](https://vote.hive.uno/@hivecuba)