Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., reintroduced a bill Thursday that would terminate the remaining travel restrictions for Americans and legal residents who wish to visit Cuba.
The Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act of 2017 is co-sponsored by 52 other senators, a significant jump from the eight backers for the original 2015 bill.
“Recognizing the inherent right of Americans to travel to Cuba isn’t a concession to dictators, it is an expression of freedom. It is Americans who are penalized by our travel ban, not the Cuban government,” Flake in a news release issued Thursday.
More than 40 travel companies on Wednesday called for Trump not to reverse the thawing of relations between countries.
“Lifting the ban on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba can pave the way to meaningful change by increasing contact between Cubans and everyday Americans, and it is certain to have positive benefits for the island’s burgeoning entrepreneurial and private sector,” Flake said.
It’s not clear how President Trump would respond if the legislation passed both chambers and ended up on his desk. Trump campaigned on the idea of reversing former President Barack Obama’s normalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Obama had softened trade and travel restrictions, but regular tourism is still not allowed.
Flake warned that if America fails to engage with Cuba, China or Russia might take advantage.
The bill would not completely lift the embargo.
