Bill Delahunt: “In a recent interview, the chief of staff of Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the U.S. embargo has not worked…”

“In a recent interview, the chief of staff of Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the U.S. embargo has not worked for 40 years. "It is crazy," he said. And, again, I am quoting the chief of staff to Secretary Powell. He went on to say, "It is the dumbest policy on the face of the Earth." That is his language. Well, let me suggest now it just got dumber. Several weeks ago, as the others have said, these new regulations were implemented by the administration. Allegedly they are designed to hasten Cuba's transition to a free and open society, which I think we all agree is a worthy goal. But, tragically, the impact of these changes fall heaviest on Cubans on the island and their families here in the United States who want to help them, to assist them. It is as if 45 years of this tough approach has not already been proven to be an abysmal failure. So today's debate on this moment focuses clearly on one of the most absurd of the new provisions. The regulation of the Department of Commerce that takes the existing restrictions on the contents of gift packages to their relatives from Americans to their relatives in Cuba, and narrows the list even further. The new rule would make it illegal for U.S. citizens to send Cuban relatives clothing, soap, shampoo, and other personal hygiene items. And furthermore, since June 30 it is now illegal to send parcels to cousins, aunts, nephews, anyone who is not a member of your immediate family.”