Cuban-Americans Travel to the Homeland and the Sending of Family Remittances Survive

By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 17, 2011 Updated: December 17, 2011 - 12:00 AM

TAMPA -- A measure putting strict limits on Cuban-Americans' travel to Cuba and financial assistance sent to family members there has been removed from a congressional spending bill.

That ends — for now — a threat to the increased travel and remittances allowed by the Obama administration.

The measure would have reinstituted the restrictions in place during President George W. Bush's administration, when Cuban-Americans could visit families in Cuba only once every three years and send only $1,200 a year to immediate relatives there.

In 2009, shortly after taking office, President Barack Obama lifted those restrictions, allowing unlimited visits and remittances.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, a leading opponent of the Fidel Castro regime, had attached an amendment reinstating the restrictions to the trillion-dollar spending bill, which is designed to keep the government running so the House can take its holiday recess.

But House Republicans agreed Thursday to drop the language as part of a deal to bring the bill to the House floor.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, praised the change, saying Cuban-American families "can breathe a sigh of relief" that holiday season visits won't be prevented by what she called "last-minute political maneuvers."

"President Obama held firm on his policies supporting Cuban-American families in the face of Congressional Republican efforts to undermine progress. Holding firm proved to win the day," Castor said.

She said the restrictions would have damaged business prospects for the Tampa Bay area. Flights from Tampa to Cuba, which began in September, have grown from one a week to four, and total travelers to Cuba have tripled from 10,000 per month to nearly 30,000.

Joe Lopano, chief executive of Tampa International Airport, projected that about 43,200 passengers will fly from Tampa to Cuba in 2012.

"The flights to Cuba are an important part of the airport's business plan," said airport authority spokeswoman Janet Zink. "Any measures that would slow demand is worrisome to us. We are very grateful for the work Rep. Castor did to maintain the status quo."

wmarch@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7761