Durbin part of congressional delegation in Cuba

Posted on January 19, 2015

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is in Cuba on Monday as part of a congressional delegation. (Photo by B Corbin/WJBC)

By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is spending his weekend in a country most of us have never been able to visit.

Durbin is part of a congressional delegation in Cuba, the first visit since the president’s announcement of shifting its policy towards our communist neighbor. Ending the trade embargo and lifting all travel restrictions will have to be done through Congress, and Durbin learned passing anything regarding Cuba won’t be easy when he proposed a resolution commending Pope Francis on his role in the Cuban talks.

“It was referred to committee,” Durbin said, “and it’s likely to be there for some time.”

Some changes have already been implemented. While there aren’t commercial flights from the U.S. to Cuba, more Americans can now go there without government permission. When they do, they’ll be able to take home up to $100 worth of alcohol and tobacco from the country.

Durbin says the delegation will return Monday night in time for a scheduled session day in Congress on Tuesday.

 

 

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