Amendment on Study Abroad in Cuba Defeated for Second Straight Year in House

On June 14, Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) again offered an ammendment on the house floor to prohibit funds from the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for 2007 to enforce travel restrictions to Cuba for students who wish to study abroad.  During the debate she reminded Congress that students are one of our most valuable assets in public diplomacy, and that "throughout the Cold War, American students studied in the Soviet Union. Many of them went on to become diplomats, scholars, and policymakers who used the knowledge they gained to contribute to the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Similarly, many Americans are studying in the People's Republic of China today. There is no reason to treat study in Cuba differently."

Lee's ammendment was defeated on the House floor.

More Information

NAFSA's Public Policy information page on Cuba Travel Restrictions