August 5, 2026
Dear Senators,
We, the undersigned humanitarian, human rights, foreign policy, faith-based, labor, veteran, and military family organizations, write to urge you to vote in favor of Sens. Kaine, Schiff, and Gallego’s Cuba War Powers Resolution, S.J.Res.193, as the Trump administration threatens military intervention against the country. The administration’s de facto oil blockade on the island has already dramatically exacerbated the country's economic and humanitarian crisis, and a military intervention would put already vulnerable Cuban civilians at further risk.
On January 29, the Trump administration asserted that Cuba constitutes "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to the national security of the United States, and invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the National Emergencies Act (NEA) to impose an effective blockade on oil shipments to the island. Later, a May 1st executive order sanctioned foreign entities working with Cuba and gave the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury broad new powers to impose further secondary sanctions, which have since been exercised. US forces have also intercepted and forced to divert multiple vessels attempting to carry fuel to the island. These actions have been accompanied by repeated threats of military action against the island. As recently as July 16, CBS News reported that US military planners have been examining options for military action in Cuba, including “an Army-led air assault involving thousands of US soldiers.”
The human consequences of the current blockade are devastating for Cubans. Since oil shipments to Cuba were halted in January, the island has only received a single tanker's worth of oil. Blackouts now last days, rather than hours, and transportation, water distribution, sanitation, hospitals, and food systems are failing. On June 8, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the United States to lift these measures immediately, warning that the fuel restrictions are directly harming Cuba's most vulnerable populations. There is little doubt that innocent Cuban civilians are suffering and dying as a result of US policies.
As Cubans face a deepening humanitarian crisis, the threat of military action puts already vulnerable Cuban civilians at further risk. A military intervention could not only result in direct harm to civilians and critical infrastructure, but also lead to long-term destabilization and reverberating effects on civilian health and livelihoods.
We urge you to support Sens. Kaine, Schiff, and Gallego’s War Powers Resolution, press the administration to lift the de facto blockade on oil and fuel shipments to Cuba, and push for urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Cuba.
Sincerely,
Alliance of Baptists
Alliance for Cuba Engagement and Respect (ACERE)
Bay Area Cuba Solidarity Network
Building Relations with Cuban Labor
Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas (CEDA)
Center for International Policy
Center for Victims of Torture
Clínica Martín-Baró San Francisco
Charity & Security Network (C&SN)
Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN)
Church Council of Greater Seattle
Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding & Policy
Church World Service
CODEPINK
Common Defense
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Region
Cuban Americans for Cuba
Defending Rights & Dissent
Demand Progress
Earth Care not Warfare
Florida Council of Churches
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Fund for Reconciliation and Development
Global Health Partners
ImPact Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions
Latin America Working Group (LAWG)
MADRE
Massachusetts Peace Action
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Military Families Speak Out
MPower Change Action Fund
Muslim Counterpublics Lab
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Network on Cuba
National Nurses United
Peace Action
Philadelphia for Cuba
Pittsburgh-Matanzas Sister Cities Partnership
Physicians for a National Health Program - Santa Barbara Chapter
Portland Action for Cuba
Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Santa Cruz Climate Action Network
Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Justice Team
Socialist Alliance of Southern Chester County
Solidarity Committee on the Americas (SCOTA)
Task Force on the Americas
Therapists for Peace & Justice
Unapologetically HERS
United Church of Christ
United for Peace and Justice
The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
US Women and Cuba Collaboration
Veterans for Peace, Seattle, Chapter 92
Veterans for Peace, Tacoma, Chapter 134
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
Washington for Peace and Justice
WILPF Cuba & the Bolivarian Alliance Committee
Win Without War
No comments:
Post a Comment