Seven members of the Congressional Black Caucus arrived in Cuba today, including Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, to discuss improving relations with the communist government amid speculation that Washington could ease travel restrictions to the island. The group may even meet with Cuban President Raul Castro.



The timing of the group's visit is significant since this comes three days after a bipartisan group of senators proposed legislation that would prevent President Obama from stopping travel to Cuba except in extreme cases. An identical bill in the House has 120 co-sponsors. See the Cuban Triangle, a serious blog about Cuba and it's relationship with the U.S.

If travel limits were lifted, about 3 million Americans would visit Cuba each year, according to a 2002 study by the Brattle Group, economic consultants in Washington. See http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cuba-travel1-2009apr01,0,4526770.story for details