The POPVOX Blog

Articles Tagged international

1. Issue Spotlight: Beyonce and Jay-Z Visit Cuba

   by rachna on April 9, 2013

   "I get so excited when you travel with me"...to Cuba!

   It's a lyric from Beyonce's song, "Hello" -- but I added the mention of Cuba in honor of her recent trip there with her husband, Jay-Z. And it's creating quite a stir in Washington. Some lawmakers in Congress are wondering how Beyonce and Jay-Z got permission from the Treasury Department to go to Cuba.

   Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen explained: "If the tourist activities undertaken by Beyonce and Jay-Z in Cuba are classified as an educational exchange trip, then it is clear that the Obama Administration is not serious about denying the Castro regime an economic lifeline that US tourism will extend to it. That was a wedding anniversary vacation that was not even disguised as a cultural program."

   Federal law expressly prohibits “tourist activities” in Cuba. However, educational opportunities sponsored by approved organizations, such as the American Museum of Natural History, National Geographic or various universities, are allowed.

   Bills Related to Cuba

   In this rare occasion, when mainstream news, policy wonks and entertainment gossip blogs are all covering the same story, we thought we'd jump in too! Here are the bills that Congress is considering about Cuba. Add your voice to the mix -- and share this list with your friends and networks!

   • HR 214 Cuba Reconciliation Act: To lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
   • HR 215 Baseball Diplomacy Act: To waive certain prohibitions with respect to nationals of Cuba coming to the United States to play organized professional baseball.
   • HR 871 Export Freedom to Cuba Act: To allow travel between the United States and Cuba.
   • HRes 121 Honoring Yoani Sanchez, a courageous blogger and activist for freedom in Cuba.
   • HR 872 Free Trade With Cuba Act: To lift the trade embargo on Cuba.
   • HR 873 Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act: To facilitate the export of US agricultural products to Cuba as authorized by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, to remove impediments to the export to Cuba of medical devices and medicines, to allow travel to Cuba by US legal residents, to establish an agricultural export promotion program with respect to Cuba.

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

2. Issue Spotlight: Dr. Shakil Afridi

   by rachna on June 7, 2012

   Dr. Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani doctor who assisted the United States in locating Osama bin Laden, was found guilty of treason by a Pakistani court and sentenced to serve 33 years in prison. Several Members of Congress have introduced legislation related to Dr. Afridi, and many more have issues statements, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Carl Levin (D-MI) and Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16).

   Issue Spotlight: Dr. Shakeel Afridi

   • S 3269 provides that no United States assistance may be provided to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed.
   • S 3260 provides that no United States assistance may be provided to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed.
   • S 3259 provides  relief of Dr. Shakeel Afridi.
   • HR 3901 provides for the relief of Dr. Shakeel Afridi.
   • HR 4069 awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Shakeel Afridi.

   See previous Issue Spotlights.

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

    

    

3. Issue Spotlight: International Women's Day

   by rachna on March 8, 2012

   International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, according to internationalwomensday.com. On this International Women's Day, March 8, POPVOX is spotlighting a variety of bills related to women internationally and in the U.S. We hope you'll weigh in on these bills on POPVOX and share with your friends and networks.

   Issue Spotlight: International Women's Day

   • HR 418 International Women’s Freedom Act of 2011 expresses the U.S. foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen U.S. advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted and denied their rights in foreign countries on account of gender.
   • H Res 20 HRes 20 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
   • H J Res 31 HJRes 31 amends the U.S. Constitution relating to equality of rights and reproductive rights.
   • H J Res 69 The Equal Rights Amendment proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution relative to equal rights for men and women.
   • H J Res 47 HJRes 47 removes the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.
   • S 414 The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Marriage Act protects girls in developing countries through the prevention of child marriage.
   • HR 4106 The Working Families Flexibility Act permits employees to request, and ensures employers consider requests for, flexible work terms and conditions.(Just introduced.)
   • HR 1493 The Fair Pay Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin.
   • HR 1519 The Paycheck Fairness Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex.

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

4. Issue Spotlight: Syria

   by rachna on February 25, 2012

   As violence in Syria continues, we want to highlight some bills related to Syria that have been introduced in Congress. We hope you'll weigh in on these bills on POPVOX and share with your friends and networks.

   Issue Spotlight: Syria

   • S Res 180 S Res 180 (and H Res 296) express support for peaceful demonstrations and universal freedoms in Syria and condemning the human rights violations by the Assad regime.
   • S 1472 The Syria Sanctions Act imposes sanctions on persons making certain investments that directly and significantly contribute to the enhancement of the ability of Syria to develop its petroleum resources.
   • HR 2106 The Syria Freedom Support Act strengthens sanctions against the Government of Syria, enhances multilateral commitment to address the Government of Syria’s threatening policies, and establishes a program to support a transition to a democratically-elected government in Syria.
   • H Res 549 H Res 549 (and S Res 370) call for democratic change in Syria.
   • S 2034 The Syrian Human Rights Accountability Act imposes sanctions with respect to human rights abuses committed against the people of Syria.

   Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.