Cuba sales, Si

Sanctions should be lifted and U.S. companies allowed to sell food and medicine to Cuba now, contends a new coalition that includes religious and humanitarian groups and the Washington-based U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Unilateral U.S. sanctions are preventing U.S. companies from responding to the needs of the Cuban people," says Dennis Sheehan, president & CEO, AXIA Inc. and chairperson of the Chamber's international committee. "Moreover, denying food and medicine to the people of Cuba is inconsistent with the U.S. role in humanitarian leadership," he adds. The Chamber's ultimate goal is eliminating the U.S. embargo against Cuba; in the meantime it's backing two Congressional bills--S. 1391 and H.R. 1951--which would permit the sale and export of food, medicine, and medical equipment to Cubans.