Tell Speaker Pelosi: End all U.S. sanctions during the pandemic
In the midst of a global pandemic, lifting U.S. sanctions is the humane action for the United States to take. I have serious concerns for the health of people in the nations under the most severe economic sanctions, including Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, Palestine (Gaza and West Bank), and Yemen among others. It is well documented that the sanctions have resulted in thousands of deaths in the past few years among the most vulnerable populations of the poor, elderly, and those with chronic diseases in these nations due to the obstacles placed on their ability to import and purchase vital medications and medical equipment.
Unless you take immediate action to lift the economic sanctions, many millions more will face additional risk of infection, death, as well as severe economic hardship. Unless the sanctions are lifted, it will cripple the capacity of these countries to deal with the pandemic and adequately control its spread. In the case of Iran, inadequate resources to fight the virus will lead to risk of spread to other countries in the area, many of which are considered American allies. Many Americans in Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East may be affected.
I support UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ recent call “for the waiving of sanctions that can undermine countries’ capacity to respond to the pandemic”.
I also support his call for a global ceasefire, because what is required for the peace, security, and health of all nations is cooperation and sharing of resources.
Forty-five Democrats in the House and Senate have called for the lifting of sanctions. Please join them. I ask you to support or introduce legislation, whether as part of the "Corona Virus Stimulus Package", or separately, to urge the administration to take the following humanitarian steps:
• Create a clear general license authorizing specific medications and medical equipment to facilitate international relief efforts. This license would aid in the donation or sale of items including testing kits, respiratory devices, personal protective equipment and medicine.
• Remove barriers to financial transactions necessary in order to purchase needed items to fight the pandemic
Tell Speaker Pelosi: End all U.S. sanctions during the pandemic
In the midst of a global pandemic, lifting U.S. sanctions is the humane action for the United States to take. I have serious concerns for the health of people in the nations under the most severe economic sanctions, including Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, Palestine (Gaza and West Bank), and Yemen among others. It is well documented that the sanctions have resulted in thousands of deaths in the past few years among the most vulnerable populations of the poor, elderly, and those with chronic diseases in these nations due to the obstacles placed on their ability to import and purchase vital medications and medical equipment.
Unless you take immediate action to lift the economic sanctions, many millions more will face additional risk of infection, death, as well as severe economic hardship. Unless the sanctions are lifted, it will cripple the capacity of these countries to deal with the pandemic and adequately control its spread. In the case of Iran, inadequate resources to fight the virus will lead to risk of spread to other countries in the area, many of which are considered American allies. Many Americans in Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East may be affected.
I support UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ recent call “for the waiving of sanctions that can undermine countries’ capacity to respond to the pandemic”.
I also support his call for a global ceasefire, because what is required for the peace, security, and health of all nations is cooperation and sharing of resources.
Forty-five Democrats in the House and Senate have called for the lifting of sanctions. Please join them. I ask you to support or introduce legislation, whether as part of the "Corona Virus Stimulus Package", or separately, to urge the administration to take the following humanitarian steps:
• Create a clear general license authorizing specific medications and medical equipment to facilitate international relief efforts. This license would aid in the donation or sale of items including testing kits, respiratory devices, personal protective equipment and medicine.
• Remove barriers to financial transactions necessary in order to purchase needed items to fight the pandemic