The US-Cuba Democracy PAC is an American special interest group that lobbies the United States Congress

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

 and White House

Executive (government)

Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...

 with the stated goal of "promoting an unconditional transition in Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

 to democracy

Democracy

Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...

, the rule of law

Rule of law

The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...

, and the free market

Free market

A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...

."

Activities and stated goals

The US-Cuba Democracy PAC lobbies the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation including:

• "Oppose legislation that will finance the prolonged existence of the Castro
  Raúl Castro
  Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
  
   regime."
• "Encourage the U.S. Congress to urge their colleagues from legislative bodies around the world as well as allies of the U.S. to support the legitimate aspirations of freedom of the Cuban people."
• "Defending the Western Hemisphere against the threats posed by the Castro Regime"
• "Preparing the next generation of Cuban Democratic leaders."

The US-Cuba Democracy PAC contributes to candidates who "a) have key roles on congressional committees responsible for Cuba-related issues or b) have demonstrated their support for the struggle for human rights in Cuba." It targets new members of Congress in an effort to create bipartisan support for the embargo.

Prominent Members

• Mauricio Claver-Carone
  Mauricio Claver-Carone
  Mauricio Claver-Carone is a prominent advocate in support of the policy positions that the United States has taken against the current Cuban government.-Background:...
  
  , Washington Director
• Gus Machado, Treasurer
• Raul Masvidal
  Raul Masvidal
  Raul Masvidal is a Cuban-American banker and real estate developer. He is one of the three original founders of the Cuban American National Foundation.-Cuban activism:...
  
  
• Remedios Diaz Oliver

External links

• Official site
• Fundraising Report
• Hard-line Cuba PAC makes inroads with House freshmen
• Battle over Cuba policy

See also

• Cuban-American lobby
  Cuban-American lobby
  The Cuban-American lobby describes those various groups of Cuban exiles in the United States and their descendants who have historically influenced the United States' policy toward Cuba...
  
  
• Political Action Committee
  Political action committee
  In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...