H.R. 2415 — Baseball Diplomacy Act

This section prohibits the exercise of specified embargo authorities—including those under section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, section 5(b) of the Trading with the Enemy Act (as exercised with respect to Cuba), and section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—with respect to (1) transactions permitted under 31 CFR 515.571 by or on behalf of Cuban nationals entering the United States on H-2B visas to play organized professional baseball; and (2) such nationals returning to Cuba with baseball earnings. The section further prohibits the use of INA section 212(f) to deny such visas and applies notwithstanding section 102(h) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.

This section establishes the duration of visas issued under section 2(a)(1) by (1) limiting the alien's stay in the United States to the duration of the baseball season; and (2) exempting such visas from renewal requirements for subsequent entries during the term of a valid contract with the professional baseball team for which the alien played in the preceding season.