Grassley favors end to sanctions against Cuba, other countries

Congress is expected to try again today to act on a bill to ease the decades-old embargo on Cuba by allowing food and medicine sales. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says it would be a humanitarian move that would at the same time benefit Cuba — and Iowa.While this measure only targets Cuba, at least 28 other nations are under sanctions by the U-S government. Grassley says our entire sanction policy is wrong and ineffective.Grassley says when the U-S puts sanctions on a nation, other nations continue to trade with that nation, hurting U-S workers and businesses and having little effect on the sanctioned country.Different versions of the bill have passed the House and Senate. A negotiating committee was kept from taking up the issue Tuesday due to arguments over whether the measure goes far enough. Leaders hope to bring new language to the panel for speedy approval today.