DeLauro Applauds State Department Reported Recommendation to Remove Cuba from State Sponsors of Terror List

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro released the following statement of support for the State Department’sreported recommendation to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List. Cuba has been on the List since 1982. In making its recommendation, the State Department has certified that Cuba has not harbored or supported terrorist for at least six months.

“I am pleased to hear that the State Department is recommending to the President that Cuba come off the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism,” DeLauro said today. “Removing Cuba from the List is consistent with our efforts to normalize relations with our neighbors. The world is a very different place today than it was 33 years ago when Cuba was first added to the list, and the time has long past for us to move beyond failed policies that do nothing to advance U.S. interests in the region.”

“The real cost and consequence of keeping Cuba on the list, given that the State Department has found no evidence that Cuba sponsors terrorist, is our credibility and leadership internationally. Branding Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism forces us to divert precious resources from countries and regions where counter-terrorism efforts are critical, and it is yet another barrier to solving real issues through full diplomatic engagement with the Cuban government directly.”

“I am pleased that the Administration is taking steps to normalize relations and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Congress to remove the embargo.”

DeLauro has made multiple trips to Cuba and is a longtime proponent of ending the current trade embargo. She is also a member of the bipartisan Cuban Working Group.

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