Cuba-US relations: House Republicans reveal legislation to continue travel restrictions to Cuba

Bill was tacked on to a must-pass transportation spending bill

(Getty Images)

Republicans in the US House of Representatives have introduced legislation aimed at blocking recent efforts by President Barack Obama to ease travel restrictions between the US and Cuba.

The legislation, which was sponsored by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, would block new flights and cruises to Cuba from the US, the Associated Press reported. It has been tacked onto a crucial transportation spending bill that the House will take on next month.

Mr Diaz-Balart, himself a Cuban-American, has introduced the legislation after months of thawing relations between the US and the communist Caribbean country. In January, the Obama administration announced plans to ease travel restrictions to Cuba and to allow regular flights for the first time.

“Under these circumstances, Congress cannot remain idle,” Rep. Diaz-Balart said. “The expansion of regularly scheduled flights to Cuba is an obvious attempt to circumvent the tourism ban. Similarly, allowing cruises to dock in Cuba would violate both the spirit and the letter of US law.

“Increased travel to Cuba directly funds the individuals and institutions that oppress the Cuban people. Increased travel also provides dollars to a regime caught smuggling weapons to North Korea in violation of international sanctions, harbouring US terrorists like Joanne Chesimard and William Morales, and supporting terrorist organizations like the FARC.”

This legislation still has a long way to go before it becomes law. It faces votes in the House Appropriations Committee and in the full House.

Should the bill pass, it would ban regular flights and cruise stops, but would allow the import of goods like cigars and rum.

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