Cuba farm export bill being readied

Cuba farm export bill being readied
Published: May 4, 2009 at 12:18 PM

WASHINGTON, May 4 (UPI) -- A Democratic U.S. senator will soon introduce
a bill to allow more agricultural imports to Cuba, legislative sources say.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., with the support
of such fellow farm state senators as Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is expected
to announce the legislation this week to tap a market that American
farmers view as lucrative and largely untapped, unnamed sources said in
the Washington publication The Hill Monday.

Baucus told The Hill that while the bill is likely, he is not 100
percent certain that he would move it. The senator has introduced
legislation aimed at allowing more agricultural exports to Cuba in
previous years, the publication said.

"We expect to introduce something soon," said Dan Virkstis, a spokesman
for Baucus and the Finance Committee. "It will be similar to the
chairman's bill last Congress -- focused on opening trade and travel
markets for U.S. farmers, ranchers and families."

As with past measures, the bill is likely to be opposed by Democratic
Party backers of the current Cuba embargo policy, including as Sens.
Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Bill Nelson of Florida.

Cuba farm export bill being readied - UPI.com (4 May 2009)

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/04/Cuba-farm-export-bill-being-readied/UPI-10321241453909/