Bill banning school-sponsored trips to Cuba clears Legislature

Posted on Wed, May. 03, 2006

Bill banning school-sponsored trips to Cuba clears Legislature
BY JENNIFER MOONEY PIEDRA
jmooney@MiamiHerald.com

Legislation aimed at banning public and private universities and
community colleges from sponsoring trips to Cuba and other
U.S.-designated terrorist nations is on its way to the governor.

The Florida House passed a bill today, filed by state Rep. David Rivera,
a Miami Republican. It already cleared the Senate.

''To me, this bill is so uncomplicated,'' Rivera said to his colleagues
in the House, who voted unanimously in support of the measure.
``Taxpayer money should not be used to support or subsidize terrorist
regimes -- period.''

Rivera sponsored the legislation after the January arrests of Florida
International University professor Carlos M. Alvarez and his wife, Elsa,
an FIU counselor. The couple is accused of being unregistered agents for
Cuba.

Under the plan, colleges and universities would be barred from using
state funds, private donations and grants to ``implement, organize,
direct, coordinate, or administer activities related to or involving
travel to a terrorist state.''

The State Department designates Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan
and Syria as terrorist states.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/14490202.htm