Kaine, Rep. Castro Statement on Biden Administration’s Decision to Rescind State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation for Cuba

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the Biden Administration's decision to rescind the State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation for Cuba:

"We applaud the Biden Administration's decision to rescind the State Sponsor of Terrorism designation for Cuba. President Trump's politically motivated decision to designate Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in the final days of his first term undermined years of progress toward improving U.S. engagement with the Cuban people. Over the last four years, that designation has exacerbated Cuba's isolation from the outside world and restricted opportunities for private enterprise that could bring freedom and opportunity to the Cuban people.

"The United States must continue to hold Cuba accountable for serious and sustained human rights abuses, including the mass imprisonment of political prisoners. We appreciate the Catholic Church's efforts to negotiate on behalf of these prisoners and welcome the Cuban government's announcement of the release of 553 people imprisoned for their political views and activism.

"President Obama described U.S. policy toward Cuba as the last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas. 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it is time for a new approach in the Western Hemisphere."

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