Activist Groups Push House Leadership to End Cuba Oil Blockade Through War Powers Vote

A coalition of 45 organizations representing faith, peace, labor, health, and political sectors has issued a letter to House Democratic leadership urging them to call for an immediate vote on Rep. Nydia Velázquez’s Cuba War Powers Resolution (H.Con.Res. 106). The resolution aims to end the de facto oil blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba since January 2026, which coalition members argue constitutes unauthorized hostilities under the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

The letter highlights the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Cuba as a result of this economic and political pressure. Since sanctions were intensified during President Donald Trump’s tenure, Cuba has experienced six nationwide power grid collapses within the past year, leaving over nine million people without electricity for extended periods. This lack of basic services has led to significant challenges with transportation, water supply, food availability, and healthcare delivery.

The coalition emphasizes that these conditions have had a direct impact on public health metrics, such as infant mortality rates, which have increased by 148% since the sanctions were imposed in 2018. This statistic translates into approximately 1,800 additional infant deaths compared to pre-sanctions levels. On August 6, a panel of United Nations experts issued a warning that the humanitarian consequences of these sanctions are escalating into a full-blown crisis, jeopardizing Cubans’ rights to health, food security, and overall development.

The letter also references a recent Senate vote on April 28, where Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) sponsored legislation aimed at ending US hostilities against Cuba. Although the bill was defeated in a procedural motion by a margin of 51 to 47 votes, it garnered support from Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY). The coalition views this vote as "one of the most important stands Congress has taken against U.S. economic sanctions toward Cuba in over six decades" and is now calling on the House to take similar action.

Under the War Powers Resolution, which was enacted in 1973, the President must obtain congressional authorization before introducing U.S. forces into hostilities or situations where hostilities are imminent. The coalition argues that a de facto fuel blockade enforced by military assets qualifies as an act of hostility under this legislation. They further cite international legal frameworks such as the UN Charter and the General Assembly’s “Definition of Aggression,” which identify blockades as acts of aggression.

Moreover, the signatories argue that depriving a civilian population of essential resources like fuel violates the Fourth Geneva Convention's prohibition on collective punishment, thereby constituting a war crime. The coalition is urging House leadership to recognize these legal and ethical implications and take decisive action to address the humanitarian crisis in Cuba.

The organizations are calling for urgent legislative action from the House Democratic leaders to support Rep. Velázquez’s resolution and bring it to a vote as soon as possible, emphasizing that such a move would enable communities to engage more actively in shaping policies affecting them directly.