Closer to Cuban Travel

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

American’s restrictions for travel to Cuba aren’t just coming from the Castro brothers according to members of the Cuba Working Group Tuesday. They urged for further changes in the United States’ Cuba policy. Although President Barack Obama lifted all restrictions on travel and financial support by Cuban-Americans to family in Cuba last month, legislators say a change in the travel ban for all Americans to Cuba requires congressional action.

U.S. Rep. and member of the Cuba Working Group Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) said, “How do we bring about change? Only by engaging with the Cuban government and Cuban society will we have the platform or leverage to seriously address our concerns without having those concerns brushed aside and ignored.”

DeLauro said support in the congress reflects the support nationwide behind travel for all Americans to Cuba. U.S. Representative James McGovern (D-MA) said that the status quo has failed. On the topic of Americans traveling to and being in Cuba, he does recognize that, “When we are there, when we’re present, it is more difficult for the Cuban government to be oppressive.”

McGovern commented that President Obama has made a “baby step” by lifting the travel ban for Americans with family members in Cuba but he needs to do more and more needs to be done to let him know there is Congressional support for further changes to the U.S.-Cuba Policy.

“We need a policy that reflects the values of the American people and I think that the time has come to do something dramatically different,” he said.