The House of Representatives on
Thursday night approved a measure that would put an end to the people-to-people
exchanges used by tour operators and the Fathom cruise line to run Cuba trips.
The House also approved a measure
that would prohibit financial transactions with the Cuban military. That
impacts travel, according to a report by the geopolitical intelligence firm
Stratfor, since the military runs much of Cuba’s tourism infrastructure,
including hotels and tour companies.
Still, resistance from President Obama
and the Senate means the House proposals face long odds of becoming law.
The measures were contained within
the far broader House financial services appropriations bill, which passed by a
count of 239 to 185 Thursday night on a largely party line vote.
The proposal that would end
people-to-people exchanges would do so by tightening the definition of
educational exchanges, one of the 12 approved categories under which Americans
can travel to Cuba, to only include educational travel involving academic
programs. At present, people-to-people exchanges are allowed under the
education exchanges provision.
The House financial services bill
conflicts with the Senate’s version of the legislation. Last month, as part of
a debate on its own financial services bill, the Senate appropriations
committee passed an amendment that would end the remaining restrictions on
travel to Cuba. The measure passed on a voice vote without opposition.
Congressional observers expect that
financial services appropriations will ultimately be lumped into an omnibus
spending bill late in the year, which would maintain the status quo on Cuba
travel.
But even if Congress does pass
legislation doing away with people-to-people travel to Cuba, it could be vetoed
by Obama, who has led efforts to reengage with Cuba.