[JURIST] A bill [text] has been introduced into the US House of Representatives [official website] that would end the ban on travel by US residents to Cuba. The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, introduced last week by Representative William Delahunt (D-MA) [official website], would allow all US citizens and legal residents to visit the island. Exceptions would include instances where the US is at war with Cuba or during times of armed conflict between the countries. The bill, which has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs [official website], is sponsored by four Democrats and four Republicans.

In 2004, the Bush administration tightened travel restrictions to Cuba [JURIST report], invoking its status as a state sponsor of terrorism. Under the current law, US residents may visit relatives on the island once every three years. Residents with no relatives there are generally unable to visit. A similar bill [materials] was introduced in the last Congress, but never made it out of committee.