Farr Decries Detention of Humanitarian Aid

FARR DECRIES DETENTION OF HUMANITARIAN AID

This afternoon, a group of 130 American citizens from the humanitarian group Pastors for Peace were prevented from crossing into Mexico with the goal of delivering humanitarian aid to Cuba by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Congressman Sam Farr (CA-17) released the following statement in support Pastors for Peace's efforts:

"When I received word that the Commerce Department had halted the progress of the Pastors for Peace caravan, I was extremely upset. Pastors for Peace is trying to bring tons of critical humanitarian aid to Cuban victims of Hurricane Dennis. They are simply trying to help people in distress, and are now in distress themselves since they do not have sufficient food and water for themselves to last through the days it would take for the Commerce Department to inspect all the vehicles and boxes in the caravan.

"A policy that denies the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to a neighboring country in urgent need after a devastating hurricane is immoral. The federal government would have no problem if these citizens were attempting to deliver relief to Mexicans devastated by a hurricane. I have cosponsored a House Resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should temporarily suspend restrictions aid to Cuba, allowing Cuban-Americans to assist their relatives in the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis and hope that the Commerce Department will allow the Pastors for Peace caravan to continue unmolested."

http://www.farr.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=10888