Senators launching push to end Cuba travel ban

A bipartisan group of eight senators is readying a major push to abolish travel bans between Cuba and the United States.

The legislation, led by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and co-sponsored by an equal number of Senate Democrats and Republicans, will be introduced later on Thursday and would end all travel restrictions between U.S. citizens and legal residents of Cuba. The legislation would also end prohibitions on financial transactions associated with travel between the two nations.

Though some of the bill’s sponsors would like to go further and eliminate the entire Cuban embargo, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act is viewed by backers as legislation that could garner broader support than simply knocking down all existing barriers between the U.S. and Cuba.

In addition to Flake, the bill is supported by GOP Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas, John Boozman of Arkansas and Mike Enzi of Wyoming as well as Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Tom Udall of New Mexico, Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democratic leader. A bipartisan companion bill from Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) is expected next week.

While President Barack Obama has announced normalization of some relations between the two countries, congressional action is needed to fully end barriers between the United States and Cuba. Many Senate Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and potential presidential contender Marco Rubio of Florida, are highly skeptical of relaxing travel and trade prohibitions with Cuba.

(From the: Politico)