1996-1998

March 12, 1996 - President Clinton signs into law the LIBERTAD Act, now known as the "Helms-Burton Act," after Cuba shoots down two civilian aircraft piloted by Cuban Americans who file false flight plans and then illegally fly toward Cuba for opposition activities. Immediately upon its passage the new law is condemned by the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of American States, and most countries throughout the world because the law's extraterritorial conditions infringe on the sovereignty of free and democratic countries and establishes a single nation, the United States, as the decision maker for all other nations in determining with whom they can and cannot trade. The law is met with such strong worldwide opposition that several of the United States' closest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, enact antidote legislation that would make it a punishable offense for companies or individuals in their countries to abide by any provision of the "Helms-Burton Act." 


November 12, 1996 - By a vote of 137 in favor to 3 against, the United Nations General Assembly adopts, for the fifth consecutive year, the draft resolution on the need to end the United States economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. 


June 18, 1997 - A bipartisan group of House Members introduce legislation to exempt the sale of food, medicines, and medical supplies from the restrictions of the 36 year old embargo and to allow, for the first time in nearly four decades, the sale of food to Cuba, which is currently illegal under U.S. law. 


November 5, 1997 - By a vote of 143 in favor to 3 against, the United Nations General Assembly adopts, for the sixth consecutive year, the draft resolution on the need to end the United States economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. 


November 6, 1997 - A bipartisan group of Senators introduce a bill to permit the President to authorize the sale and export of food, medicines, and medical equipment to Cuba by any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. At the end of the Congressional year both proposed bills die because they are locked in committee unable to get released for either a hearing or full floor vote. 


October 5, 1998 - Rep. George Nethercutt, R-WA, intending to help implement the Freedom to Farm Act, introduces the Freedom to Market Act which would lift all unilateral sanctions on food and medicine. 

October 13, 1998 - Senator John W. Warner leads an initiative supported by 23 of his Senate colleagues recommending that the President establish a National Bipartisan Commission to review U.S.-Cuba policy. Senator Warner is supported in this request by former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, and Lawrence Eagleburger, former Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci, former Undersecretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, former Assistant Secretary of State Harry Shaldermann, and former Senator Malcolm Wallop. 


October 16, 1998 - For the seventh consecutive year the United Nations General Assembly adopts a draft resolution on the need to end the United states economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. This year's vote is 157 in favor to 2 against with the two opposing countries being the United States and Israel. Israel is currently the largest foreign citrus farmer in Cuba, the largest exporter of fruit from Cuba, and is developing commercial real estate properties in Cuba including a business center in Havana.