Freshman Senator Marco Rubio, determined to stand in the way of progress, last week proposed an amendment to a Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) funding bill that would bar any additional flights between the U.S. and countries, such as Cuba, designated as “state sponsors of terrorism” by the State Department.
The amendment proposed by Rubio, runs counter to the changes announced by the Obama administration last month which relaxed travel restrictions for college students, religious and cultural groups.
Airports like Fort Lauderdale, Key West and Orlando were planning to take advantage, by seeking federal permission to establish direct flights to Cuba, tapping into the growing market of Cuban-Americans to now travel more freely to the island. Tampa, earlier this month, had applied for similar approval from the FAA.
If Rubio’s amendment passes Congress, all the advantages of freerer movement of people and goods would be lost.
