Klobuchar is leading the bipartisan effort in the Senate to lift the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today released the following statement after the President nominated Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba. DeLaurentis is currently the charge d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba. Last August, Klobuchar attended the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba with Secretary of State John Kerry.  

“The nomination of Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba is another major step forward in normalizing relations between our two countries,” said Klobuchar. “I attended the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba last summer with Secretary Kerry and witnessed the American flag being raised again, 55 years after it was lowered. Jeffrey DeLaurentis was there, too. His experience and expertise make him an exceptional nominee for this important job. I urge the Senate to hold a hearing and a vote on his nomination as soon as possible. Congress should also pass my bipartisan bill to lift the trade embargo so that we can boost U.S. exports and allow Cubans greater access to American-made goods and products."

Klobuchar is leading the bipartisan Freedom to Export to Cuba Act—which currently has 25 Senate cosponsors. The bill lifts the current embargo and allows more U.S. goods to be exported to Cuba. The bill would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba, boosting job creation and exports. It does not repeal provisions of current law that address human rights in Cuba or that allow individuals and businesses to pursue claims against the Cuban government. In March, Klobuchar visited Cuba with the President and other Members of Congress, including Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN), who is leading the bill in the House to lift the trade embargo.  

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