1-1 By: Bernsen S.C.R. No. 54 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed May 4, 2001; May 7, 2001, read first 1-3 time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources; May 11, 2001, 1-4 reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; 1-5 May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, The relationship between the United States and Cuba 1-8 has long been marked by tension and confrontation; further 1-9 heightening this hostility is the 40-year-old United States trade 1-10 embargo against the island nation that remains the longest-standing 1-11 embargo in modern history; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Cuba imports nearly a billion dollars' worth of food 1-13 every year, including approximately 1,100,000 tons of wheat, 1-14 420,000 tons of rice, 37,000 tons of poultry, and 60,000 tons of 1-15 dairy products; these amounts are expected to grow significantly in 1-16 coming years as Cuba slowly recovers from the severe economic 1-17 recession it has endured following the withdrawal of subsidies from 1-18 the former Soviet Union in the last decade; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Agriculture is the second-largest industry in Texas, 1-20 and this state ranks among the top five states in overall value of 1-21 agricultural exports at more than $3 billion annually; thus, Texas 1-22 is ideally positioned to benefit from the market opportunities that 1-23 free trade with Cuba would provide; rather than depriving Cuba of 1-24 agricultural products, the United States embargo succeeds only in 1-25 driving sales to competitors in other countries that have no such 1-26 restrictions; and 1-27 WHEREAS, In recent years, Cuba has developed important 1-28 pharmaceutical products, namely, a new meningitis B vaccine that 1-29 has virtually eliminated the disease in Cuba; such products have 1-30 the potential to protect Americans against diseases that continue 1-31 to threaten large populations around the world; and 1-32 WHEREAS, Cuba's potential oil reserves have attracted the 1-33 interest of numerous other countries who have been helping Cuba 1-34 develop its existing wells and search for new reserves; Cuba's oil 1-35 output has increased more than 400 percent over the last decade; 1-36 and 1-37 WHEREAS, The United States' trade, financial, and travel 1-38 restrictions against Cuba hinder Texas' export of agricultural and 1-39 food products, its ability to import critical energy products, the 1-40 treatment of illnesses experienced by Texans, and the right of 1-41 Texans to travel freely; now, therefore, be it 1-42 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-43 hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 1-44 consider the removal of trade, financial, and travel restrictions 1-45 relating to Cuba; and, be it further 1-46 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 1-47 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to 1-48 the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of 1-49 the senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of 1-50 the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this 1-51 resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a 1-52 memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. 1-53 * * * * *