US Congress Drops Bill Against Cuba Travel

HAVANA TIMES, Dec 16 — The proposed tightening of travel restrictions to Cuba on Cuban-Americans was withdrawn by members of the US House of Representatives and the Senate Appropriations Committees.

Travel restrictions have been long promoted by Cuban-born Republican Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, and the initiative had been attached to a major US government spending bill.

According to the Cubadebate.cu report, after four days of negotiations the United States Congress signed an agreement yesterday on spending for federal agencies amounting to 1 trillion dollars.

Ordinary US citizens are forbidden by their government to visit Cuba without an individual or group license from the US Treasury Dept.  However, Cuban-Americans have been free to travel to the island under the Obama administration.