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119-hr-2415119th Congress

Baseball Diplomacy Act

Sponsored By: Representative Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

Introduced

Summary

Would let Cuban nationals enter the United States to play organized professional baseball and return to Cuba with their earnings. The bill would block certain embargo and immigration authorities from stopping those entries or payments and would create season-limited visas tied to player contracts.

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  • Cuban players: Could get a visa that covers the baseball season, be allowed to take their earnings back to Cuba, and not need a new visa for re-entry while a contract remains valid.
  • U.S. professional teams: Could sign and pay Cuban players for transactions allowed under current Treasury rules without embargo-based penalties.
  • Federal authorities: Would be barred from using specific embargo and immigration powers, including parts of the Foreign Assistance Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act as of July 1, 1977, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, to deny these visas or regulate permitted transactions. It would apply notwithstanding section 102(h) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier visas and payments for Cuban ballplayers

If enacted, Cuban nationals who come from Cuba on a temporary work visa to play pro baseball would face fewer blocks. The government would not be able to use broad entry-ban or Cuba embargo powers to deny that visa or to block deals and payments that Treasury rules already allow. It also could not stop those players from taking their baseball earnings back to Cuba. The visa would let them stay only for the baseball season. It would not need renewal for later trips while they have a valid contract with the team they played for last season.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

TN • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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