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Summary

Restrictions on travel to Cuba have been a key and often contentious component in U.S. efforts to isolate the communist government of Fidel Castro for much of the past 40 years. Over time, there have been numerous changes to the restrictions, and for 5 years, from 1977 until 1982, there were no restrictions on travel to Cuba. In March 2003, the Administration eased restrictions on those visiting close family members in Cuba, while at the same time it eliminated travel for people-to-people educational exchanges unrelated to academic coursework. Major arguments made for lifting the Cuba travel ban are it hinders efforts to influence conditions in Cuba and may be aiding Castro by helping restrict the flow of information; it abridges the rights of ordinary Americans; and Americans can travel to other countries with communist or authoritarian governments. Major arguments in opposition to lifting the Cuba travel ban are American tourist travel would support Castro's rule by providing his government with millions of dollars in tourist receipts; there are legal provisions allowing travel to Cuba for humanitarian purposes that are used by thousands of Americans each year; and the President should be free to restrict travel for foreign policy reasons. In the 107th Congress, while there were various measures introduced that would have eased restrictions on Cuba travel, and while the House voted in the first and second sessions to prohibit spending to administer the travel regulations, no final action was taken affecting U.S. restrictions on travel to Cuba. The final version of the FY2003 Treasury Department appropriations measure, included in the FY2003 omnibus appropriations measure approved in the 108th Congress, H.J.Res. 2 (P.L. 108-7), did not include provisions easing Cuba travel restrictions. The White House had threatened to veto the measure if it contained provisions weakening the embargo. In the 108th Congress, several bills have been introduced that would lift or ease restrictions on travel to Cuba, and, as in past years, attempts to ease restrictions on travel to Cuba are expected during consideration of the Transportation-Treasury appropriations measure, H.R. 2989. Cuba's human rights crackdown in 2003 could have a negative impact on momentum behind such legislative proposals. Two bills would specifically lift restrictions on travel to Cuba: S. 950 (Enzi) and H.R. 2071 (Flake). Three broader bills would lift all Cuba embargo restrictions, including those on travel: H.R. 188 (Serrano), S. 403 (Baucus), and H.R. 1698 (Paul). In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee's version of the FY2004 agriculture appropriations bill, S. 1427, includes a provision (Section 760) allowing travel to Cuba under a general license for travel related to the sale of agricultural and medical goods. This report will be updated to reflect major developments. For additional information, see CRS Report RL31740, Cuba: Issues for the 108th Congress. For a comparison of countries for which the U.S. government also maintains travel restrictions -- Cuba, Iraq, Libya, and North Korea -- see CRS Report RS21003, Travel Restrictions: U.S. Government Limits on American Citizens' Travel Abroad.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.2989
• S.950
• H.R.2071
• H.R.188
• S.403
• H.R.1698
• S.1427
• H.J.RES.2
• S.2100

Related Reports:
• RL31139
• RL31139

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