WASHINGTON — A group of Republicans in Congress wants to give the president widespread authority to sanction non-Cubans who do business with the country’s defense, security and intelligence sectors, the latest policy response from Washington after widespread pro-democracy protests in Cuba in July.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that he’s introducing the Denying Earnings to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and Restricting Activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus (DEMOCRACIA) Act. Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is introducing identical legislation in the U.S House.
Miami’s entire Cuban American contingent in Congress is backing the bill. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and GOP U.S. Reps. Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart and Maria Elvira Salazar are co-sponsoring the legislation.
