Resolution 260545
Urging the Trump Administration to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and urging Congress to vote to end all economic sanctions against Cuba.
Introduced by
From the floor
Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.
“Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of Resolution 260545. My name is Renee Quarterman. I am a surgical breast oncologist and the leader of Philadelphia for Cuba. I have traveled to Cuba several times on humanitarian aid missions and have observed firsthand the suffering that the United States has caused. Cuba has some of the best-trained physicians in the world and their medical brigades h…”
Dr. Quarterman · Stated Meeting, May 28, 2026 · May 28, 2026 · official transcript, this passage
“Hello, Councilors. My name is Cooper Bard. I'm a rank-and-file Teamster and a local resident. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on Resolution 260545. This resolution 24 is about the future of the Cuban and US people. As a working person in the United States, I have the right to speak out against the actions of my own government, which has carried out nothing less than a multi-generational assault against the wor…”
Mr. Bard · Stated Meeting, May 28, 2026 · May 28, 2026 · official transcript, this passage
“I'm Jack Mraz speaking in favor of 260545. I'm a Cuban American, a Philadelphian and I'm sick of watching our government carry out a genocidal campaign against the people of Cuba. The U.S. has been waging a one-sided war against the Cuban people for 67 years now. This war comes in the form of a blockade, severely restricting the country's economy and functionally cutting off Cuba from trading with the entire world. T…”
Mr. Mraz · Stated Meeting, May 28, 2026 · May 28, 2026 · official transcript, this passage
“Hello. My name is Megan Dunn and I am here to ask all the Councilpeople to support Bill 260545. Cuba is not a threat. I know there's a lot of disinformation on this. But the more you look into it, the more you'll realize. In fact, they've sent doctors across the sea to provide health care to those who need it and have universalized their own health care, which is something the United States has not done. Right now th…”
Ms. Dunn · Stated Meeting, May 28, 2026 · May 28, 2026 · official transcript, this passage
Status timeline
- May 14, 2026Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar · CITY COUNCIL
- May 28, 2026ADOPTED · CITY COUNCIL
Official documents
Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.
Full text
Read the full text as published
..Title Urging the Trump Administration to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and urging Congress to vote to end all economic sanctions against Cuba. ..Body WHEREAS, The United States has maintained an economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba, restricting most trade and engagement and penalizing other countries for engaging with Cuba since 1962; and WHEREAS, 32 city councils including Pittsburgh have passed resolutions calling for the end of the embargo and/or for removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terror list. 117 resolutions have been passed by governmental bodies in the United States representing more than 60 million people; and WHEREAS, The embargo blocks Cuba from acquiring essential medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and necessary resources for daily life like oil for its electricity grid creating an urgent starvation and medical crisis; and WHEREAS, President Trump signed Executive Order 14380 of January 29, 2026, "Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba", escalating the embargo citing erroneous threats to national security posed by Cuba despite the Cuban government's longstanding policy of friendship and cooperation among states and respect for the international rule of law; and WHEREAS, President Trump reinstated Cuba's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT), reversing the 2015 decision by the Obama-Biden administration to remove this status following an extensive review by the US State Department and later the Biden-Harris administration. Cuba does not remotely meet the established criteria for inclusion on this list; and WHEREAS, The Trump administration has intensified its rhetoric toward Cuba and expanded military deployments in the Caribbean region. Any form of military action would have devastating and potentially irreversible consequences for the Cuban people, who are already enduring a severe humanitarian crisis. Any military or maritime escalation could produce detrimental consequences for the region; and WHEREAS, Both Trump administrations have severely increased US sanctions on Cuba, reversing Obama-era policies. These measures restrict Cuban Americans from sending remittances to relatives and businesses in Cuba, and prevent Cubans from visiting their relatives in the US. Worsening economic conditions have led to increased Cuban migration and US border security concerns; and WHEREAS, The Trump administration has imposed restrictions on where US residents, traveling legally in Cuba; and WHEREAS, The embargo prevents people in the US from accessing Cuban biotech medications including Heberprot-P (which prevents diabetic foot amputations), CIMAvax, a vaccine for treating advanced lung cancer, and NeuroEPO which can delay or halt the advancement of early-stage Alzheimer's disease; and WHEREAS, The United Nations estimated in 2024 that the embargo had cost Cuba $164 billion to date, with annual losses around $5 billion; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby urges the Trump Administration to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and urges Congress to vote to end all economic sanctions against Cuba. ..End