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Resolution
(Pr;
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3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami. FL 33133
www.miamigov_com
File \umber: 10-01440 Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION OPPOSING CULTURAL
EXCHANGES BETWEEN CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES SO LONG AS THE
CUBAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES ITS VIOLATION OF BASIC FREEDOMS
AND HUMAN RIGHTS; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMITA COPY OF
THIS RESOLUTION TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AS STATED HEREIN.
WHEREAS, the people of Cuba have suffered under a totalitarian dictatorship for nearly half a
century; and
WHEREAS, countless innocent Cubans have been detained, imprisoned, tortured, maimed and
executed for the simple act of exercising their basic human rights; and
WHEREAS, in the 1990s, President Bill Clinton opened a cultural exchange program with Cuba
that allowed Americans and Cuban Americans to visit Cuba, and some Cuban government -sponsored
artists and writers were allowed to tour and work in the United States; and
WHEREAS. Americans or Cuban Americans critical of the Cuban government, were not allowed to
enter Cuba; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, after the Cuban government ordered the execution by a firing squad of three
black teenagers who tried to hijack a boat to flee Cuba and sentenced 75 dissidents to up to 28 years
in prison, President George W. Bush suspended the cultural exchange with Cuba and imposed
restrictions to trips and Cuban American remittances to the island; and
WHEREAS, this year, President Barack Obama, under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations,
Title 31, Part 515 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations, relaxed such restrictions to the
levels they were before 2004, and also began a new cultural exchange between the United States and
Cuba with the hope that his actions encourage the Castros' regime to release political prisoners and
restore some fundamental freedoms; and
WHEREAS, the Cuban government has shown no improvement toward respecting basic human
rights; and
WHEREAS, under the pretense of cultural exchange, Cuba is sending communist agents
spreading pro -Castro propaganda in order to provoke the Cuban community;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by
City of Miami
Page 1 of 2 File Id: 10-01440 (Version: 1) Printed On: 12/15/2010
File Number: 10-01440
reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this SeCi07.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission urges the members of Congress to oppose legislation
permitting cultural exchanges between Cuba and the United States so long as the Cuban government
continues its violation of basic freedoms and human rights.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to President Barack
Obama, the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Senators Bill
Nelson and George LeMieux. the Miami -Dade County United States and to the Miami -Dade County
Congressional Legislative Delegation.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and s gnature of
the Mayor.{1}
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
JULIE 0 BRU
CITY ATTORNEY
Footnotes :
{1} If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami
Page 2 of 2 File Id: 10-01440 (Version: I) Printed On: 12/15/2010