Anti-Cuban congressmen insist on introducing bills that expand and perpetuate coercive instruments against the archipelago.
During the current legislative session of the 119th U.S. Congress, anti-Cuba politicians have pursued an aggressive and systematic strategy, accompanied by hostile language toward Cuba in debates, while making concerted efforts to increase economic and political pressure on our country.
This offensive is manifested through the introduction of bills that seek to perpetuate and expand coercive instruments, constructing a false narrative that aims to present Cuba as a threat to U.S. national security.
One of the most evident examples of this hostility is the insistence on keeping the island on the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism. Congresswomen like María Elvira Salazar are promoting the so-called Force Act, which would prohibit the executive branch from removing Cuba from this list until conditions are met that, in practice, exacerbate the economic damage to the Cuban people.
Designation as a state sponsor of terrorism has been a tool of financial suffocation and international isolation, impeding access to global banking mechanisms and restricting essential exports, severely impacting the economy and the population's quality of life.
On the other hand, there has been an increase in the budget for subversion against the island, reaching up to $75 million, $35 million more than in the previous period. These sums are disguised under the pretext of promoting democracy, when in reality they support the counterrevolutionary structures created by Washington, as well as an enormous propaganda and psychological warfare apparatus aimed primarily at destabilizing the Revolution.
Beyond the usual pretentious justifications, the anti-Cuban congressmen are seeking to expand funding, much of which goes to the "business of waging counterrevolution," while also serving as a platform for political campaigns in states with a high concentration of anti-Cubans, such as Florida.
The legislative framework promoted by this reactionary sector of Congress is based on the legal codification of Cuba as a "foreign adversary," a term that appears in numerous bills aimed at advancing a narrative of confrontation.
This category serves as the basis for proposals ranging from bans on scientific collaboration between institutions in both countries to the suspension of any type of technological or diplomatic cooperation.
At least five legislative initiatives include language that restricts scientific relationships, threatening the development of vital joint projects, such as the Heberprot-P clinical trial in the U.S., and also excludes Americans from using a highly effective Cuban product for treating diabetic foot ulcers.
Furthermore, attempts are being made to hinder foreign investment through projects that eliminate legal obstacles to civil lawsuits under the Helms-Burton Act, a law that exacerbates legal persecution against companies and individuals with economic ties to the island.
The anti-Cuban offensive is also evident in the area of immigration policy, where these congressmen align themselves with anti-immigrant stances, such as those implemented during the Trump administration.
These measures have led to the separation of Cuban families and left thousands of people in an irregular situation in the U.S., without offering a real solution. Meanwhile, support continues for mass deportations and visa restrictions that harm the Cuban-American community and its family ties to the island.
Along the same lines, they seek to generate a "pressure cooker" effect, manipulating emigration to provoke a social upheaval that would justify intervention by the US government or, at least, an increase in economic aggression.
Anti-Cuban congressmen also exert pressure from their positions to maintain and reinforce the economic blockade, as evidenced by their support for Presidential Memorandum on National Security No. 5, imposed by Donald Trump and aimed at intensifying measures that cause hunger and desperation among the Cuban people, with the stated objective of overthrowing the Revolutionary Government.
This hardening of the situation is also fueled by public discourse and social media, which justify the "maximum pressure" policy and discredit the actions of the Cuban government, while also supporting the initiatives of the internal counterrevolution.
Finally, this legislative group does not hesitate to promote false accusations linking Cuba to support for alleged terrorist organizations, drug trafficking, or human rights violations, without offering concrete evidence. Even more serious, they maintain close ties with individuals linked to terrorist acts against the Caribbean nation.
In short, the 119th U.S. Congress exhibits a persistent and systematic rejection of any opening or rapprochement with Cuba, based on a comprehensive strategy that combines legislative hostility, the maintenance of false narratives, the promotion of coercive measures, and political exploitation.
This policy not only violates the sovereignty and interests of the Cuban people, but also disregards the potential for a bilateral relationship that benefits both nations.
SOME OF THE RECENT INITIATIVES
-
HR5342
- Allows for unlimited filing of lawsuits under the Helms-Burton Act.
- Eliminates the two-year limitation on these legal actions.
- It blocks funding for laboratories and establishes other restrictions that affect scientific cooperation and economic development.
- Imposes bans on flights and property.
-
S.488 (initiated in the Senate)
- It imposes targeted sanctions on individuals and entities conducting transactions with Cuba, focusing on alleged human rights abuses and corruption.
-
S.172 Stopping Adversary Tariff Evasion Act (Rick Scott)
- It refers to the Greater Antilles as a foreign adversary State.
-
S.838 ACRE Act (Jerry Moran)
- Prevents loans to enemy countries.
-
HR3479 SECURE American Telecommunications Act (Rudy Yakym)
- Prohibits licensing of submarine cables in areas controlled by foreign adversaries.
These legislative actions are part of the reactivation and update of Presidential Memorandum on National Security No. 5, signed in 2025, which reverses recent openings and reinstates restrictions in tourism, financial, and diplomatic areas, in addition to limiting coverage and access to economic resources.