Sam Farr: “Let us face it. This is not a problem about Castro. This is a problem about us. We made this law. And this…”

“Let us face it. This is not a problem about Castro. This is a problem about us. We made this law. And this administration wants to enforce this law. This is not about Fidel Castro. This is about the present administration and Members of Congress. It is very interesting that those who do not want to lift this ban are also exempt from it. Cuban-Americans can travel freely back without our country's permission. And as Members of Congress, you can travel to Cuba, but you cannot do that as a regular American citizen. What has this law done? Has it prevented Americans from going to Cuba? Absolutely not. It is estimated 100,000 Americans went to Cuba last year, 75 percent of them went illegally. Why are they going to Cuba? It is only 90 miles off our coast. That is probably why they are not going to Iraq and North Korea and other places which the President identifies as the axis of evil, and our government does not ban you from going there. They are also fascinated by the history Cuba played in the American Revolutionary War. They are fascinated by a country that wins music Emmys. They are fascinated by a country and culture that produces good rum and cigars, yet it is illegal for Americans to drink that rum or smoke those cigars. It is illegal for Americans to have fun. That is what this law says. It is so un-American. It is so unpatriotic. It is so unenforceable.”