[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 39 (Thursday, March 10, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CUBA

  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. President, last month we reached a milestone in the 
continuing reform of our policy toward Cuba. The United States and Cuba 
completed a bilateral air service agreement that is key to ensuring the 
continued travel of Americans to the island. The newly minted air 
services agreement will, for the first time in 50 years, provide 
scheduled air service between the United States and Cuba, including 20 
daily flights to Havana and 10 daily flights to other Cuban airports.
  As someone who believes that all Americans should have a chance to 
see a living museum of a failed socialistic experiment, I look forward 
to the day when all Americans can use Web sites they are familiar with 
to make reservations, even with their frequent flyer miles, to book 
flights to Havana and elsewhere in Cuba. Clearly, there is interest on 
our side of the Florida Strait. With easing of regulatory restrictions, 
authorized travel to Cuba by Americans has increased by more than 50 
percent in just one year. Freedom to travel between the two countries 
will continue to open cultural and economic ties, benefiting the Cuban 
people and Americans alike.
  While I ardently support everyone's right to travel to Cuba, key to 
the success will be ensuring that the initial flights being awarded by 
the Department of Transportation provide for the continued and expanded 
ability of the Cuban American community to travel to the island via 
regular air service. This should include adequate regular service to 
accommodate the growing demand from the largest and closest Cuban 
American population located in Miami-Dade County.
  In addition, having traveled to Cuba multiple times over the years, I 
hope that the Department closely evaluates the complexity of operating 
there and ensures that those selected to operate these routes are up to 
the task--those with experience.
  A failure-to-launch scenario would represent a critically missed 
opportunity represented by the potential of successfully scheduled air 
services between the United States and Cuba. We can't afford to let 
this opportunity go to waste.
  I have long supported efforts to restore the rights of American 
citizens to travel to Cuba and have introduced legislation to lift the 
statutory ban on travel, along with my colleague from Vermont, Senator 
Leahy. I am pleased to say that our legislation continues to gain 
bipartisan support.
  As the situation changes on the ground with developments like regular 
air service, direct air service, and scheduled air service, I hope that 
thousands upon thousands of Americans will visit Cuba and Congress will 
do the right thing when it comes to changing our outdated law.
  I yield back, Mr. President.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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