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Related: About this forumHouse GOP bill blocks new air flights, cruise ship travel to Cuba
House GOP bill blocks new air flights, cruise ship travel to Cuba
The provision by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American from Florida, would block new flights and cruise ship travel to Cuba. The provision was attached to a must-pass transportation spending bill that the House will consider next month.
Diaz-Balart's move comes in response to new rules issued by the administration in January that would significantly ease travel restrictions to Cuba and permit regularly scheduled flights for the first time, the result of a rapprochement after a half century of Cold War animosity.
Diaz-Balart said that the Obama administration is skirting U.S. law, which bans tourist travel to Cuba.
"The expansion of regularly scheduled flights to Cuba is an obvious attempt to circumvent the tourism ban," Diaz-Balart said in a statement. "Similarly, allowing cruises to dock in Cuba would violate both the spirit and the letter of U.S. law. Increased travel to Cuba directly funds the individuals and institutions that oppress the Cuban people."
Rest of article here.
TheNutcracker
(2,104 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,415 posts)Cuba-US relations: House Republicans reveal legislation to continue travel restrictions to Cuba
Payton Guion
New York
Tuesday 28 April 2015
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.
More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cubaus-relations-house-republicans-reveal-legislation-to-continue-travel-restrictions-to-cuba-10211093.html
procon
(15,805 posts)Republicans say they love small government, zero regulations, business, capitalism and free markets, but here they are doing the exact opposite. Republicans are now the Big Government party that is stifling growth and interfering with businesses that just want to make money.
Who knew that Republicans aren't very truthful? LOL
ladjf
(17,320 posts)Why are they so hell bent on continuing the break with Cuba?
Mika
(17,751 posts)The Cuba sanctions, both pro and con, have always been a mixed bag of Rs and Ds. Whichever position reaps the greatest campaign contributions is the path taken by most all pols.