Senate Panel Approves Expanded Cuba Travel in Spending Bill

[babylonsister]

Senate Panel Approves Expanded Cuba Travel in Spending Bill


A Senate panel Wednesday approved a $44.8 billion fiscal 2009 spending bill, which includes a controversial provision to expand family travel to Cuba.

The bill was approved 9–0 by the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations subcommittee. It also would increase funding for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Durbin said the bill restores the rights of families to visit relatives in Cuba to pre-2004 levels, allowing a trip once a year rather than once every three years, an unlimited stay rather than a 14-day stay, and a spending limit of $170 per day rather than $50 per day.

Subcommittee ranking Republican Sam Brownback , R-Kan., said this provision was “very sensitive” and needed additional consideration. He said he would bring it up again before the full committee markup Thursday.

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000002913221