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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Congress Ready to End Cuba Travel Ban: Senators

Lawmakers believe time has come for bipartisan bill to end 50-year-old travel ban

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(Newser) – A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that would allow Americans to travel freely to Cuba for the first time in nearly 50 years, the Miami Herald reports. Previous efforts have been shot down by conservatives and anti-Castro Cuban-Americans, but the lawmakers say momentum is on their side under the new administrations in both countries.

"I think there's sufficient votes in both the House and the Senate to finally get it passed," said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), the bill's chief sponsor. Experts estimate that 3 million Americans would travel to Cuba yearly if the ban was lifted, generating up to $1.6 billion for US-based travel companies. Congressional opponents who say the move would only enrich the Castro regime have promised a bitter fight.

A police officer walks past a double-decker tourist bus in Havana, Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
A police officer walks past a double-decker tourist bus in Havana, Wednesday, March 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
Cubans and tourists walk among metal elephants exhibited as part of the 10th Biennal of Contemporary Art in Havana, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
Cubans and tourists walk among metal elephants exhibited as part of the 10th Biennal of Contemporary Art in Havana, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.   (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
A girl celebrating her 15th birthday posses for tourists in Old Havana, Friday, Nov. 14, 2008.
A girl celebrating her 15th birthday posses for tourists in Old Havana, Friday, Nov. 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
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Punishing the American people in our effort to somehow deal a blow to the Castro government has not made any sense at all .
- Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.)

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4 comments
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Doctor_Zaius
Apr 1, 09 6:05 AM CDT
Want the Castro regime to end? Let US citizens come pouring into Cuba cash in hand. Want it to continue? Keep this stupid ban in place for another 50 years. Reply
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oldgoat
Apr 1, 09 6:17 AM CDT
Bans accomplish little usually. We;ve had this ban on Cuba for decades which has been pretty much a joke. Let's drop the ban and I'd bet that there would be a change in the way things are run there. Reply
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Derni
Apr 1, 09 7:26 AM CDT
It's about time-good things will come from this-Cuba will see that the American dollar helps their economic problems-they in turn will want to maintain positive relations. Reply
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Caps
Apr 1, 09 9:16 AM CDT
I think the ban should be lifted. It has been nothing but a big joke, and maybe some positive relations could be formed. Reply
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