End the Travel Ban on Cuba

Cuba Business Bureau/Insider Advantage Poll
*Conducted April 15, 2010 – Nationwide

Q: Should the U.S. re-establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba?

• Support full relations – 58%
• Oppose full relations – 33%
• No opinion – 9%

Q: Should the U.S. allow all U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba?

• Allow travel to Cuba: 61%
• Prohibit travel to Cuba: 25%
• No opinion: 14%
  

Q: Should the U.S. allow American companies to do business in Cuba?

• Allow business: 57%
• Prohibit business: 30%
• No opinion: 13%

At the beginning of the year, as we began the second round of the 111th Congress, our campaign to lift the ban on U.S. citizens' travel to Cuba had come to a crossroads. In 2009, the "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act," H.R. 874, introduced in the House of Representatives by travel champions Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), won strong backing, i.e. co-sponsorship, from an astonishing 180 representatives. Nevertheless, we weren't raising any celebratory mojitos. While the U.S. public was and is increasingly coming around to our viewpoint, we were still 30 or so votes short from being able to pass the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act in the House. With no new co-sponsors in sight, it was time to consider alternative paths to a resounding "Travel for ALL!" victory.

We're back! We're sorry for the recent radio silence for some of you; but we've been putting all of our time, energy, and wits into wringing every possible YES vote for H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, out of the House Committee on Agriculture. Our recent alerts have been directed to those of you who live in districts with members "on the fence." But now is the time for ALL of us to activate.

*These reps. aren't co-sponsors of either H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, or H.R. 874, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. Some reps. don’t appear because there is little hope of converting them; send them a note anyway.