Washington, DC – This morning, by voice vote, the House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s amendment to overturn the Administration’s new restrictions on students’ travel to Cuba. “Today’s vote delivers hope to U.S. students who want and deserve the opportunity to study abroad in Cuba.”

 Until recently, thousands of U.S. students participated in study programs in Cuba run by scores of U.S. educational institutions.  Students of all ages across the country took part in these programs.  On June 30, 2004, the Administration implemented new restrictions that severely limit U.S. citizens’ participation in educational activities in Cuba.

 Under the new regulations: educational travel licenses are only granted to undergraduate and graduate institutions; no high schools or other educational institutions are allowed to have Cuba travel programs; licenses to these institutions are only valid for one year now, instead of two; only students enrolled in the licensed institution may travel on that license; therefore, students may no longer travel to Cuba under the license of an educational institution other than their own, even if their own institution accepts the licensed institution's program for credit toward the student's degree; and  educational activities in Cuba may be no shorter than 10 weeks, unless they are for purposes of graduate research.   

 The Lee - Rangel - Tubbs-Jones amendment to the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 would reverse these regulations.

  “I am pleased with today’s victory on behalf of U.S. students. Now we must work to ensure the Republican leadership allows this important amendment to remain in the final conference report.”    

 Congresswoman Lee has consistently advocated lifting the travel ban and trade embargo with Cuba. Most recently she successfully ensured that students at the Latin American Medical School in Cuba were able to continue to their studies despite new regulations.                                                       

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