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H.R. 17To advance the mutual interests of the United States and Cuba,

forthwith declaring an end to any and all sanctions and

embargos delineated in U.S. Code; and recognizing the

Communist Party of Cuba as the ruling party of the Cubanpeople.

_____________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DECEMBER, 1, 2012

Mr. BLAIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Foreign Affairs for a period to besubsequently determined by the Speaker, for consideration of

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee

concerned.

_____________________

A BILLTo advance the mutual interests of the United States and Cuba,

forthwith declaring an end to any and all sanctions andembargos delineated in U.S. Code; and recognizing the

Communist Party of Cuba as the ruling party of the Cuban

people.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of1

Representatives of the United States of America in2

Congress assembled,3

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.4

This Act may be cited as the Cuban Diplomatic5

and Economic Freedom Act.6

SEC. 2. DECLARATIONS OF POLICY7

(1) Congress makes the following declarations of policy:8

1STCONGRESS1STSESSION

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(A) It is in the interest of the United States to ensure that9

bilateral economic ties with Cuba are strong, robust, and10

diverse, in part because the Cuban nation possesses --11

(a) great pent-up consumer demand and untapped human,12

natural, and commodity resources considered part of a next13

frontier economy.14

(b) significant investment opportunities for American companies15

and their related subsidiaries.16

(c) notable local consumer goods demanded by the American17

public - tourism and tobacco products, most notably.18

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SEC. 3. REPEAL OF ALL SECTIONS OF U.S. CODE RELATING TO20

THE RESTRICTION OF ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC21

RELATIONS WITH THE CUBAN STATE AND PEOPLE.22

(1) Congress shall strike the following provisions from relevant23

code:24

(A) 18 U.S.C. 2332D25

(B) 22 U.S.C. 2370(a)26

(C) 22 U.S.C. 6001-601027

(D) 31 U.S.C. 321(b)28

(E) U.S.C. App 1-4429

(F) Pub.L 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, (28 U.S.C. 2461)30

(G) Pub.L 104-114, 110 Stat. 785 (22 U.S.C. 6082)31

(H) Pub.L 105-277, 112 Stat. 268132

(I) Pub.L 106-387, 114 Stat. 154933

(J) Pub.L 111-8, 123 Stat. 52434

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(K) Executive Order 9193, 7 F.R. 5205, 3 CFR, 1938-194335

Comp., p. 117436

(L) Executive Order 9989, 13 F.R. 4891, 3 CFR 1943-194837

Comp., p. 74838

(M) Proc. 3447, 27 F.R. 1085 3 CFR 1959-1963 Comp., p.15739

(N) Executive Order 12854, 58 F.R. 36587, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp.,40

p 61441

(2) All other relevant code shall, notwithstanding, be modified42

to reflect above changes.43

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SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICIAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS45

AND RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CUBA.46

(1) In accordance with 22 USC Chapter 8, the United States47

shall establish Embassy and Consular presence in Havana and48

Santiago de Cuba, respectively. Furthermore - in accordance49

with 22 USC Chapter 14 - an appropriate diplomatic corp shall50

immediately be appointed to represent the interests of the51

United States in Cuba.52

(2) The United States and her representatives will forthwith53

open official talks with the Communist Party of Cuba. The54

United States will hereafter recognize the Communist Party of55

Cuba as the legitimate governing body of the Cuban people.56

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SEC. 5. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNITED STATES-CUBA58

TRADE, DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS.59

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President60

shall appoint a Special Representative for United States-Cuba61

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Trade, Development, and Economic Affairs, to report the the62

Office of the United States Trade Representative.63

(A) Duties, Responsibilities, and Functions.64

(i) The Special Representative shall coordinate and oversee65

government and private investment in coordinating and66

convening a permanent interagency United States-Cuba Trade67

and Development Action Group, which shall include68

representatives from Dept. of State, Trade and Development69

Agency, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Export-70

Import Bank of the United States, the United States Agency for71

International Development, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of72

Commerce, Dept. of Energy, the Small Business Administration,73

Dept. of Defense, and any other agency the Special74

Representative determines appropriate.75

(ii) Designing and implementing public outreach, education,76

and liaison programs intended to foster United States-Cuban77

economic, technical, social, and cultural ties.78

(iii) Facilitating and increasing the number of international79

learning exchange, professional, training, and educational80

programs between Cuba and the United States, particularly81

programs intended to promote trade, economic growth, or82

socioeconomic development.83

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SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF CUSTOMS DUTIES85

(1) In accordance with Chapter 19 of the U.S.C., the United86

States shall levy a duty in the amount of 3%.87

(2) Congress shall review the duty rate annually for until 2022.88

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SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDING.90

(1) From amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for91

Diplomatic and Consular Programs for fiscal years 201292

through 2016, $5,000,000 for each such fiscal year is93

authorized to be made to carry out this Act.94

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