Travel to Cuba....

[SkinsFanLarry]

Overturning Cuba Travel Ban May Pass House This Year

By Fabiola Moura

Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) — Legislation to end a ban on Americans traveling to Cuba has enough support in the U.S. House of Representatives to win approval by year-end, said Representative Sam Farr, a California Democrat.

The bill to let U.S. citizens resume travel to the Caribbean island except in times of war or cases in which they face imminent danger has 181 votes in the House and needs 218 to pass, said Farr, a co-sponsor of the legislation. The plan is backed by travel groups such as the United States Tour Operators Association and the National Tour Association and human rights groups such as the Washington Office on Latin America and has been helped by President Barack Obama’s election, he said.

“It is believed we can get to this before the end of the year,” Farr, 68, said in an interview in New York. “We haven’t had a policy about Cuba. We’ve had policies about getting votes in Florida and Obama changed that by getting those votes.”

The U.S. ended restrictions on Sept. 3 on Cuban-Americans travel and money transfers to relatives in Cuba. The new rules also allow U.S. telecommunications companies to provide service in Cuba for mobile telephone, satellite radio and television. Exceptions to the 1962 trade embargo on communist Cuba include $500 million per year in agricultural exports, Farr said.

“If you are a potato, you can get to Cuba very easily,” he said. “But if you are a person, you can’t, and that is our problem.”

The rest of the article

 

[Stew]

w00t!!!

 

[GoingPostal]

sounds well and good but i'll wait for it to actually happen.

 

[Nuckz23]

I guess you have to smoke all the Cubans you can while you are there because it doesn't sound like anything is going to get changed with regards to bringing any back with you.

 

[Treinenwj]

That sounds great, but I think congress has a lot more important issues to tackle right now.

 

[openendstraight]

That sounds great, but I think congress has a lot more important issues to tackle right now.

Acutally if it was part of your agenda to get this passed, right now is the perfect time. Favors are being offered up in the House and Senate right now.

 

[Benzopyrene]

.... for those of you who havent been yet! ;-)

 

[openendstraight]

.... for those of you who havent been yet! ;-)

What are you trying to say? :angel:

 

[gibbleguts]

I believe that it was Cuba is know to have some great medical training going on as well international healthcare confrences. So doctors seem to have an easier time getting in. Or at least that is how I read it.

Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Alwayslit]

Cuba has some of the best looking beaches in Caribbean .....imho

 

[funkejj]

Correct me if I am wrong but you can buy and bring cc's into the US legally if they are purchased in Cuba. But you can't go to Cuba unless you are a mission group or a competing athlete with a special permission from the state department

 

[petroleumengineer]

Correct me if I am wrong but you can buy and bring cc's into the US legally if they are purchased in Cuba. But you can't go to Cuba unless you are a mission group or a competing athlete with a special permission from the state department

I guess you have to smoke all the Cubans you can while you are there because it doesn't sound like anything is going to get changed with regards to bringing any back with you.

Unless, I'm mistaken... American's aren't allowed to buy products of Cuba whether you are on a boat, or in a house, on top of a tree or under a car, in Cuba or in an airplane. Yes I don't believe you can buy a cigar or a bottle if you are in Canada or France if they came from the island or from a raft.

You get the point.

 

[Bass man]

Correct me if I am wrong but you can buy and bring cc's into the US legally if they are purchased in Cuba. But you can't go to Cuba unless you are a mission group or a competing athlete with a special permission from the state department

Until the end of 2003, if you were on an OFAC licensed trip to Cuba (and I've been on three) you were allowed to bring back $100 per person of Cuban made products. Cultural items like art, books, etc were exempt. Starting 2004 licensed visitor can ONLY bring back cultural items, and it became very difficult to get that OFAC license.