Former Agriculture Sec. John Block to Hold Call for Illinois Media

Will urge Congress to legalize travel with Cuba and boost U.S. food sales

On Wednesday, July 8 at 10:00 a.m. Central (11 a.m. Eastern), John Block,
former Secretary of Agriculture under President Reagan, will hold a call for
Illinois media to discuss his support for legislation in Congress to legalize
travel by all Americans to Cuba, because that legislation and related
proposals are good policy and will stimulate additional sales to Cuba of
agricultural commodities produced in Illinois and around the U.S.

This is a dial-in conference call for reporters only (information below).
Secretary Block will make a statement and respond to questions by reporters.

Former Secretary Block has visited Cuba on two occasions, most recently in
March 2009. He has dedicated his professional career to the fields of
agriculture, food, and health. His accomplishments in agriculture began with
the building of a large and successful hog operation in Illinois, where he
also served as the Director of Agriculture from 1977-1981. He was tapped by
President Reagan to serve as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture from 1981-1985, where he played a key role in the development of
the 1985 Farm Bill. He is currently senior policy advisor to Olsson Frank
Weeda in Washington, D.C.

Secretary Block, an advocate of full commercial and diplomatic relations with
Cuba, will announce his support of the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which
would repeal the ban on legal travel by all Americans to Cuba, sponsored by
Representatives Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) in the House, and
sponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) in the Senate,
and discuss the value of boosting agriculture trade with Cuba.

WHAT: Media call with John Block on increasing travel and trade with Cuba

WHO: Former Secretary John Block
Moderated by Sarah Stephens, executive director, Center for Democracy in the
Americas

HOW: Dial-in (866-242-4983)
Conference ID: 17860844

WHEN: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
10:00 A.M. Central, 11 a.m. Eastern

CONTACT: David Dreyer, +1-202-986-9802, for Center for Democracy in the
Americas

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- July 7/

SOURCE Center for Democracy in the Americas