Bill would drop travel restrictions to Cuba

[Jimmy2]

By Alexia Campbell February 10, 2009

While most of the nation focused on the stimulus bill winding through Congress, nine representatives introduced a bill calling for an end to the 46-year-old ban on travel to Cuba.

The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 4 would allow American citizens unrestricted travel to Cuba for the first time since 1963. The bill by Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., and eight co-sponsors would also lift limits on travel by Cuban exiles living in the United States. The president would not be able to regulate travel to the island unless an armed conflict or armed danger arises.

The bill has gone too far, said Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez, president of the Cuban American National Foundation. Cuban exiles should visit their families whenever they want, but tourists shouldn't spend money in resorts that Cubans are barred from. "It's improper and should not be allowed until the Cuban government makes some reforms," he said.

That's not the case for Jose Lopez, president of the Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports Latin Chamber of Commerce and a staunch supporter of the trade embargo.

Tourism dollars spent in Cuba will inject more oxygen into the dying Castro regime, he said. Lopez also thinks Cuban exiles who want to return to the island whenever they please are abusing their refugee privilege.

Many expect President Barack Obama to back a change in the policy. As a candidate for the presidency, Obama spoke in favor of reducing restrictions on remittances and travel to the island.

Co-sponsors to the bill include representatives Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Ron Paul, R- Texas.

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Congressional bill would end ban on travel to Cuba

BY LIZA GROSS

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A bipartisan bill calling for an end to the 46-year-old ban on travel to Cuba was introduced in Congress by a group of representatives led by William Delahunt of Massachusetts.

The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, introduced Feb. 4 and referred to the Foreign Relations Committee, prohibits the U.S. president from regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. residents, except in times of war between the two countries or of imminent danger to public health or the safety of U.S. travelers.

During his campaign, President Barack Obama announced that he would roll back the restrictions on travel to Cuba imposed by the Bush administration.

Under that policy, Cuban Americans can send up to $300 in cash every three months and are allowed to visit the island once every three years, although they can send gift packages of food, medicine and other items. Bush also tightened the restrictions on visits by academics, students and religious groups.

Americans with no family in Cuba generally cannot visit the island, and the Obama announcement remained unclear as to whether the easing of travel restrictions will apply to them.

The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act would then go further than Obama's campaign promise by explicitly empowering U.S. citizens and legal residents to visit the island at will.

In addition to Delahunt, other sponsors of the bill include representatives Jeff Flakes,R-Ariz.; Rosa Delauro, D-Conn.; Jo-Ann Emerson, R-Mo.; James McGovern, D-Mass.; Jim Moran, R-Kansas; Donna Edwards, D-Md.; Ron Paul, R-Texas; and Sam Farr, D-Calif.

New Bill Would End Travel Ban To Cuba

Bill Is Called The Freedom To Travel To Cuba Act

Introduced In The House Of Representatives On Feb. 4th

Bill Would End Travel Ban Enacted In 1963 MIAMI

There's a new push in Congress to end the 46-year old travel ban to Cuba.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday that a bill introduced by Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., and eight co-sponsors would end the travel ban enacted in 1963 and would prevent the President from regulating travel to the island unless an armed danger arose.

The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 4th. It would not only allow American citizens unrestricted travel to Cuba, it would also lift limits on travel by Cuban exiles living in the U.S.

During his campaign, President Barack Obama spoke in favor of lifting travel restrictions on Cuban Americans trying to visit family on the island. Under Bush's policy, Cuban Americans had to wait three years between visits to relatives in Cuba. The policy also complicated travel for Americans with no ties to the island.

American travel to Cuba remains tightly controlled and highly bureaucratic for most Americans since the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on the country in the 1960s. Many American critics say opening U.S. travel to Cuba would be supporting an oppressive, totalitarian government.

The Cuban American National Foundation says the bill goes too far. It wants the bill amended to say Cuban exiles can visit the island whenever they wish to see family, but tourists should continue to be banned until the Cuban government shows some sign of democratic reform.

In 2007, about 45,200 Americans -- including Cuban Americans -- legally obtained a license or approval from the U.S. government to enter Cuba by air, a dramatic drop from nearly 84,500 travelers in 2003, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

Almost all other countries in the world have open access to Cuba and the island remains a popular tourist destination for Canadians and Europeans, attracting millions of visitors each year. Tourism is a primary source of revenue for the island.

In addition to Delahunt, other sponsors of the bill include representatives Jeff Flakes,R-Ariz.; Rosa Delauro, D-Conn.; Jo-Ann Emerson, R-Mo.; James McGovern, D-Mass.; Jim Moran, R-Kansas; Donna Edwards, D-Md.; Ron Paul, R-Texas; and Sam Farr, D-Calif.

[Jimmy2]

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