Caribbean, Haiti, and Cuba
“From our nation's inception, the Caribbean-American community has played an important role in our history, culture, and government.”
-Congresswoman Barbara Lee
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Strengthening Relations with our Neighbors
The rich cultural legacy of our neighbors in the Caribbean has been reflected throughout the history of the United States across a wide range of disciplines, including the arts, business, and politics. Congresswoman Lee believes that the strength of the United States is embodied in the rich diversity of its people, many of whom share a common ancestry with the people of the Caribbean.
Inspired to enter into politics by the life and legacy of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, and herself a daughter of the Caribbean, Congresswoman Lee has worked tirelessly to strengthen relations between the United States and our neighbors. She strongly believes that continued engagement and dialogue through educational exchange programs, travel, and fair trade – including the ending of the arbitrary embargo with Cuba – are essential to fostering the spread of democratic values and good governance within the region. Congresswoman Lee has worked to establish June as Caribbean American Heritage Month in 2005, and each year she leads Congress in recognizing the many contributions Caribbean Americans have made in the United States.