1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Nine million people are suffering in Cuba. There have been six total blackouts of the entire national grid this year alone, with outages stretching past 20 hours in some provinces. Hospitals are rationing care. Ventilators are failing. This isn’t a natural disaster—it’s the direct result of an oil blockade the Trump administration has enforced since January, letting a grand total of one tanker reach Cuban shores in seven months. UN human rights experts warned this month that without immediate intervention, Cuba risks becoming a “silent Gaza.” Children are dying because the United States decided to weaponize fuel against a civilian population. International law has never been vague about what this is: A blockade enforced by military assets is an act of war, full stop. That means Congress, not Trump alone, has the constitutional authority to decide whether it continues. In April 47 senators—a bipartisan bloc—voted for the first time in history to recognize a blockade without a single shot fired as “hostilities” under the War Powers Act. They came up five votes short. Now it’s the House’s turn, and Americans are not on the fence about this: we oppose a war with Cuba by 64 points to 15, and among people with an opinion, that jumps to 81 percent against. The only thing standing between this blockade and a vote to end it is House leadership’s willingness to schedule one. As my representative I am asking you to call the vote on H.Con.Res. 106. Every day of delay is another day of starvation used as a weapon. Please end this illegal blockade now.