The HallelReport

House Lifts Cuban American Family Travel Restrictions

February 25, 2009 – Washington, DC – Congressman José E. Serrano announced that his provisions loosening restrictions on Cuban American family travel were included in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed the House today. Serrano chairs the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, which oversees the budget of the Treasury Department, enforcer of the Cuba travel ban.

“Today, in an act of compassion, the House voted in favor of allowing Cuban Americans to visit their families,” said Congressman Serrano. “The Bush Administration tightened the limits on family travel to a degree that virtually no one could support and maintained it in the face of strong opposition. This change has been a long time coming.”

Serrano’s language will allow Cuban Americans to:

* Visit once per year for as long as they choose;
* Visit cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles, in addition to parents, grandparents, children and siblings;
* Spend up to $179 per day while in Cuba

The language also eased restrictions on travel for the sale of agricultural goods, and reversed the “cash-before-shipping” restrictions of the Bush years.

“Families and farmers will be happy with the changes that the House passed today,” added Serrano. “But all Americans should feel proud that the legislative body that should most closely represent them took a step toward the easing of the unpopular Cuba embargo. More importantly, they should be proud because we removed inhumane restrictions on separated families.”