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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois business, cultural, and government 
3organizations are in a unique position to play a leadership 
4role in encouraging further dialogue on expanding social and 
5economic ties with Cuba; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Numerous Illinois representatives from 
7businesses, cultural organizations, and government entities 
8have made recent exploratory visits to Cuba; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Those Illinois groups are unanimous in their 
10conclusion that the Cuban embargo has proven to be a 
11counterproductive policy that has failed to achieve its stated 
12purposes; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, As a result, both Illinoisans and Cubans have been 
14harmed by this failed policy; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a strong history of 
16trade and academic, cultural, and business exchanges with Cuba 
17and the potential for strong future growth in each of these 
18areas; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, In order to build upon past relationships 
20developed by numerous groups and leaders who have visited Cuba 
 
 
HR0185- 2 -LRB098 11510 GRL 43679 r

1and who desire an end to the current embargo, a re-examination 
2of current policy is needed; therefore, be it
  
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
4NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
5we urge the Governor's Office to redouble its diplomatic 
6efforts with Cuba by forming a Working Group charged with 
7improving Illinois business and trade exchanges with Cuba; and 
8be it further
  
 
9    RESOLVED, That any working group should be charged with 
10coordinating the efforts of State, regional, and national 
11organizations to promote a new and more effective policy 
12between both countries; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
14delivered to the Governor.