Velázquez Joins Congressional Delegation to Cuba

Press Release

With President Obama having recently announced historic changes to U.S. policy towards Cuba, a group of House Democrats are traveling to the island nation this week.

In December, President Obama announced resumption of diplomatic relations with Cuba, plans to re-establish an embassy in Havana and a loosening of travel restrictions between the two countries. Other steps would expand U.S. exports to Cuba, giving Cubans greater access to lower cost goods. Permitting telecommunications companies to grow their presence in Cuba would expand Internet access throughout the country, providing additional information sources for the Cuban people.

The Congressional delegation that arrived Tuesday is the first official visit by a House delegation since the President's policy changes were announced. The group is being led by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and includes nine Democratic House Members. In an effort to broaden understanding of the current situation on the ground, members of the delegation will meet with Cuban government officials, Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, local community leaders and representatives, and American officials at the U.S. Interests Section. Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) is part of the delegation and said she hopes the visit will build on the President's December announcement.

"Normalizing relations with Cuba will help end a backwards, ineffective policy that has failed to improve the lives of the Cuban people," said Velázquez. "The President's announcement was a long overdue step and it is my hope it will help building understanding between our nations, while creating opportunity for the Cuban people."

Since coming to Congress in 1992, Velázquez has long advocated normalizing relations with Cuba, cosponsoring legislation that would reverse the longstanding U.S. policy aimed at isolating the country.

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