Klobuchar is part of a Senate delegation in Cuba meeting with agriculture and export officials to discuss opportunities to modernize relations between the United States and Cuba and open up new economic opportunities for U.S. businesses and farmers 

Last week, Klobuchar introduced major bipartisan legislation to allow U.S. goods to be exported to Cuba by lifting the current embargo; the legislation eliminates the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba, helps boost U.S. job creation and exports, while also improving the lives of people in Cuba

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is part of a Senate delegation in Cuba meeting with agriculture and export officials to discuss opportunities to modernize relations between the United States and Cuba and open up new economic opportunities for businesses and farmers in Minnesota and across the country. Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Mark Warner (D-VA) are also part of the delegation, which will return today.

Last week, Klobuchar introduced major bipartisan legislation to allow for U.S. exports to Cuba by lifting the current embargo. The bill would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba, boost job creation and exports, and help improve the quality of life for the Cuban people.

“We have a historic opportunity to modernize our country’s relationship with Cuba – and it’s a moment we must seize,” Klobuchar said. “This visit is a chance to meet with Cuban agriculture and export officials to explore ways we can modernize relations between our two countries and create new economic opportunities for farmers and businesses in Minnesota and across the country. Minnesota exported about $20 million in agricultural products to Cuba in 2013, and my focus is on pursuing strategies to increase that number.”

Klobuchar’s bipartisan legislation – the Freedom to Export to Cuba Act – repeals the current legal restrictions against doing business with Cuba, including the original 1961 authorization for establishing the embargo; subsequent laws that required enforcement of the embargo; and other restrictive statutes that prohibit transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba, and limitations on direct shipping between U.S. and Cuban ports. It does not repeal human rights provisions or provisions relating to property claims against the Cuban government.

The Cuba travel ban would be lifted under the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which was sponsored by Senator Jeff Flake and cosponsored by Senator Klobuchar. 

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