Cuba Travel Ban Hearing at US Congress

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Nov. 4 – The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives has called a hearing for November 18 on the subject: “Is it Time to Lift the Ban on Travel to Cuba?

Committee Chairman Howard L. Berman, (D-Calif) announced today that the hearing is open and will take place at 10:00 a.m. at Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Two of the most outspoken representatives in favor of ending the decades old prohibition are on the 47-member Foreign Affairs Committee:  Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts and Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona, as well as Democrat Barbara Lee of California, who recently met in Havana with President Raul Castro.

Back in February, only two weeks after Barack Obama took office, Rep. Delahunt introduced legislation (HR 874) that would lift the travel ban on US citizens wanting to visit Cuba.   The bill now has 180 co-sponsors.

Also on the Committee is the fervent anti-Castro, Cuban-American, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who would like to see the travel ban on US citizens, and blockade against Cuba, continue without change.

President Obama has not said whether he would sign HR 874 if it passes the full house or squash the bill by threatening a veto as did George W. Bush during his two terms in office.