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Senate Appropriation Committee Approves Funds for USDA in Cuba

May 19, 2016

Earlier this week, the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee approved $1.5 million in funds for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff in the new U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) along with over 60 other agricultural groups, in April sent a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, urging them to provide funding for USDA personal to be housed in Cuba.

The letter stated that providing USDA boots on the ground in Cuba would help provide opportunities for U.S. agribusinesses, support marketing efforts of U.S. exporters and help the transition of lifting the embargo run more efficiently.

The next step will be for the full Senate Appropriations Committee to mark-up the Agriculture Appropriations bill.

Click here to read the letter.