Public Policy
Amendment on Study Abroad in Cuba Defeated in House
On June 30, U.S. House Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) offered an amendment prohibiting funds from being used to enforce new regulations, promulgated in June of 2004, that severely restrict and in many cases eliminate opportunities for United States students to study abroad in Cuba. Representative Lee stated, “The revised travel regulations take our policy towards Cuba in exactly the wrong direction.... Regulations that have already denied and will continue to deny many American college students the basic opportunity to gain experience, knowledge and insight through study abroad in Cuba should not be funded.” She added, “This is an issue of freedom for our students to travel and gain invaluable experience and educational opportunities that only international study abroad programs can provide.”Lee’s amendment was defeated on the House floor.
