The U.S. House voted 225-174 Tuesday to remove new travel restrictions that strictly limit visits by Cuban-Americans to their relatives in Cuba.
Proponents from Florida and other states said the rules separate families and cut off a lifeline of support during an especially traumatic time in the aftermath of hurricane damage.
The spending bill amendment would remove only the most recent travel restrictions, imposed by President Bush in June, which limit Cuban-Americans to one 14-day trip every three years to visit immediate family members. The House measure would reinstate the previous limit of one trip per year and additional trips in emergencies, and it would allow visits to aunts, uncles and cousins.
The White House has warned that Bush would veto any weakening of Cuba travel sanctions. The Senate has yet to vote on a measure similar to the House’s.
