Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Justice Before Commerce Act of 2016”.
Justice Before Commerce Act of 2016
A BILL
To prohibit the use of Federal funds to accept commercial flight plans for travel between the United States and Cuba until certain known fugitives are returned to the United States, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Prohibition on use of Federal funds for commercial flight plans for travel between the United States and Cuba
Findings— The Congress finds the following:
In 1971, Charles Hill, along with Ralph Lawrence and Albert Finney, hijacked an airplane leaving Albuquerque, New Mexico, and carrying 150 passengers, in order to flee from prosecution after allegedly murdering New Mexico State Police officer Robert Rosenbloom.
Although both Lawrence and Finney have since died, Hill is known to be alive and residing in Cuba, after being granted asylum protections by Cuba.
Cuba harbors more than 70 known fugitives from justice from the United States, preventing their prosecution in United States courts.
The President of the United States has recently expanded diplomatic relations with Cuba without regard to the fugitives from justice from the United States who reside safely within that communist country’s borders.
The United States and Cuba have bilateral extradition treaties, established in 1905 and 1926 (33 Stat. 2265, 33 Stat. 2273, and 44 Stat. 2392, respectively).
Statement of policy— It is the policy of the United States to expect the Cuban government to extradite to the United States all known fugitives from justice from the United States.
Prohibition— No Federal funds may be used to accept commercial flight plans for travel between the United States and Cuba before the date on which Cuba extradites to the United States the last known fugitive from justice from the United States who is located in Cuba.