July 20, 2015

Congresswoman Lee Hails Opening of U.S. Embassy in Havana & Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee attended the opening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Lee has been working on U.S.-Cuba policy since 1977 and has traveled to Cuba more than 20 times, leading several Congressional delegations to the island. She released this statement:

“The opening of embassies in Washington D.C. and Havana mark a new chapter in relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Diplomats will now be able to regularly engage with their counterparts to advance a range of issues important to each nation.

While today’s historic embassy openings are an important step forward, much work remains.

Too many barriers remain to fully normalized relations.  Congress must act now to lift the travel ban and end the failed embargo. It’s past time for Congress to repeal these Cold War relics and chart a new path forward for our two nations.”

BACKGROUND

Congresswoman Lee is proudly co-sponsoring the bipartisan Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (H.R. 664) to lift the travel ban and the Free Trade with Cuba Act (H.R. 403) to end the embargo.

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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.