U.S. said to plan easing rules for travel to Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. said to plan easing rules for travel to Cuba
Officials: Embargo against government will continue even as travel opportunities expand
By Ginger Thompson

updated 1 hour 11 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is planning to expand opportunities for Americans to travel to Cuba, the latest step aimed at encouraging more contact between people in both countries, while leaving intact the decades-old embargo against the island’s Communist government, according to Congressional and administration officials.

The officials, who asked not to be identified because they had not been authorized to discuss the policy before it was announced, said it was meant to loosen restrictions on academic, religious and cultural groups that were adopted under President George W. Bush, and return to the “people to people” policies followed under President Bill Clinton.

Those policies, officials said, fostered robust exchanges between the United States and Cuba, allowing groups — including universities, sports teams, museums and chambers of commerce — to share expertise as well as life experiences.

Policy analysts said the intended changes would mark a significant shift in Cuba policy. In early 2009, President Obama lifted restrictions on travel and remittances only for Americans with relatives on the island.

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38734399/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Cuba Travel Could Be Sen. Dorgan’s Legacy

Cuba Travel Could Be Sen. Dorgan’s Legacy
August 17, 2010
By Dawn Gable

HAVANA TIMES, August 17 — The race is on and time is running out. Will Obama ease travel restrictions before Congress gets even one Chamber to vote on the hard-worked bills that would lift the ban altogether?

Vague rumors are flying around the Capital about an upcoming announcement from the Administration that would allow more cultural and educational travel to Cuba reminiscent of the late Clinton era. Looks like Obama is tired of waiting on Congress. But executive rules only lasts until another executive changes them. So we still need Congress to act.

What is Congress’ problem? Well there are many. But according to my conversations with some folks on the Hill…. the House-side thinks it would better for the Senate to take the lead on moving legislation to end the travel ban. The House is reluctant to expend the effort of passage in their Chamber only to have the measure defeated in the Senate.

Senators Dorgan and Enzi, authors of legislation in the Senate that would allow unrestricted travel (S. 428), have recently claimed in a press release that they have the votes to pass it, despite Bob Menendez promise to filibuster. Dorgan is the chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, which decides which bills reach the Senate floor and when.

This gives him a disproportional amount of clout, especially since there is such a backlog of House-approved bills awaiting Senate passage before the end of the year. If he brings his bill up, it would be in the best interest of everyone with other pending legislation to get it through as quickly as possible.

Considering that Dorgan is retiring in a few months, this is his opportunity to go out with a splash! He has long championed efforts to develop relations with Cuba. In fact, just last week he added language to the Senate appropriations bill that would redefine “cash in advance” when selling agricultural products to Cuba. (Rep. Serrano passed similar language in the House appropriations bill in 2009, but the Treasury Department disagreed and did not implement the change.)

More:
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=27855

[flamingdem]

2. I hope that Obama's easing with people-to-people exchanges

is not a way to dilute action in the congress.