U.S. Lawmaker Wants to Temporarily Ease Travel to Cuba Rules

A long-time critic of U.S.-Cuba policy said Thursday he plans to file legislation to temporarily lift the limits on travel to the island.

The hearing comes as church groups and others pressure the Bush administration to lift the travel caps to allow Cuban Americans to travel to the island to help those affected by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

Rep. Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., said he’d like to lift the restrictions imposed by President Bush in 2004 entirely, calling them “anti-family and anti-American.”

“But I am willing to compromise to avoid a humanitarian disaster,” Delahunt said. His bill will call for lifting restrictions on family travel, remittances and care packages for six months.

Congress, though, is only expected to be in session for another week before recessing for the November election. And the proposal sparked opposition even among members of the House subcommittee Delahunt chairs.