The bill's co-sponsors include: Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Cory Gardner (R-CO), David Vitter (R-LA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).
"It is not in the interest of the United States or the people of Cuba for the U.S. to become a financier of the Castro regime's brutality," said Rubio. "The Cuban Military Transparency Act would prevent U.S. dollars from getting into the hands of the Cuban military and would demand accountability from the Obama Administration regarding fugitives of American justice in Cuba, the return of stolen and uncompensated property and the role of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior in Cuba."
"The United States must stand squarely on the side of the Cuban people and take every possible action to weaken the brutal rule of the Castro regime," said Cotton. "This bill is one such step. It denies the Castro security services hard currency and aims to hold the regime accountable for its past crimes and misdeeds."
The "Cuban Military Transparency Act" would:
· Identify and prohibit financial transactions with the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, their sub-divisions and leadership;
· Amend the Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program to include the arrest or conviction of the individuals responsible for the February 24th 1996 deadly attack on United States aircraft;
· Direct the Attorney General to coordinate with Interpol regarding the capture of U.S. fugitives in Cuba;
· Direct the President to provide reports on the role of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior in Cuba and the return of property that has been confiscated by the Government of Cuba; and
· Provide exemptions for current "cash-in-advance" sale of agricultural commodities, medicine and medical devices and remittances to family members and transactions related to democracy promotion programs.
