<p>Multiple media reports say the Obama administration is preparing to ease longstanding travel restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba. Details were first reported Tuesday by <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: rgb(255,255,150) 2px solid; display: inline; background: 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-size: auto auto; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" leohighlights_underline="true" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520new%2520york%2520times%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520new%2520york%2520times%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_keywords="the new york times" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')">The New York Times, although speculation has swirled in Washington since Havana began releasing political prisoners last month. The White House and State Department declined to comment Tuesday.</p>
<p>The Associated Press and <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: rgb(255,255,150) 2px solid; display: inline; background: 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-size: auto auto; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial" id="leoHighlights_Underline_1" leohighlights_underline="true" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520new%2520york%2520times%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520new%2520york%2520times%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_keywords="the new york times" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_1')">The New York Times reported that the administration is seeking to "expand opportunities" for Americans to travel to Cuba as a means of encouraging "more contact between people in both countries," while maintaining the decades-old embargo against the Castro government. The report cites unnamed Congressional and administration officials who say the policy change does not require legislative approval and could be announced before Congress returns from a mid-September break, and comes in the wake of the July prisoner release.</p>
<p>The administration is seeking to ease restrictions on academic, religious and cultural groups that were adopted under President <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: rgb(255,255,150) 2px solid; display: inline; background: 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-size: auto auto; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial" id="leoHighlights_Underline_2" leohighlights_underline="true" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dgeorge%2520w%2520bush%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dgeorge%2520w%2520bush%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_keywords="george w bush" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_2')" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_2')">George W. Bush, and re-institute the "people to people" policies followed under President <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: rgb(255,255,150) 2px solid; display: inline; background: 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-size: auto auto; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial" id="leoHighlights_Underline_3" leohighlights_underline="true" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dbill%2520clinton%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dbill%2520clinton%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_keywords="bill clinton" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_3')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_3')" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_3')">Bill Clinton, according to the Times report. The Clinton policy encouraged universities, sports teams, museums and chambers of commerce to share expertise and life experiences; currently academic, religious and cultural groups are allowed to travel to Cuba under very tight rules.</p>
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The administration is also planning to allow flights to Cuba additional cities, according to the reports; flights are currently only available from Miami, New York and Los Angeles. <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: rgb(255,255,150) 2px solid; display: inline; background: 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-size: auto auto; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial" id="leoHighlights_Underline_4" leohighlights_underline="true" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520miami%2520herald%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_2/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Dthe%2520miami%2520herald%26domain%3Deditorial.modernagent.com" leohighlights_keywords="the miami herald" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_4')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_4')" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_4')">The Miami Herald reported earlier this month that the administration will ease restrictions following Havana's promise to free political prisoners, citing "growing but unconfirmed" reports. Officials at Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS), which provided legal travel to Cuba for Americans between 1962 and 2003 through a special educational license from the U.S. Treasury Department, say the company also envisions resuming the future of their previously halted programs based on the media reports. "If restrictions are eased and the opportunity to operate becomes available, CCS has indicated that it will seek permission to re-open its program," according to a company statement.</p>
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