Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a member of the bipartisan Congressional Cuba Working Group’s Steering Committee, released a statement marking the first anniversary of President Obama’s historic announcement of renewed relations between the U.S. and Cuba:

“One year ago, I joined many of my colleagues and the vast majority of the American people in applauding President Obama’s bold action to end more than five decades of failed policy toward Cuba,” said Lee. “The President’s announcement was a historic step and renewed relations between our two nations have and will continue to benefit both the Cuban and American people.”

Over the past year, the country has made significant progress toward fully normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba with expanded travel, technology transfers and formalized relations, Lee said.

Earlier this year, she attended the re-opening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. and the re-opening of the American Embassy in Havana. By re-establishing formal relations, the two countries have laid the groundwork to continue addressing areas of shared interest.

“These rapid changes have been remarkable but more work remains and Congress must join these efforts,” Lee continued.

“It’s past time for Congress to stop clinging to more than 50 years of failed policy and instead help chart a new path for relations between our two nations.”

Lee and 11 of her colleagues launched the bipartisan Cuba Working Group and are working wit to repeal the embargo travel ban with Cuba.

Congresswoman Lee has been working on U.S.-Cuba policy since 1977 and has traveled to the island more than 20 times, leading several Congressional delegations.

Congresswoman Lee is co-sponsoring the bipartisan Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (H.R. 664) to lift the travel ban and the Free Trade with Cuba Act (H.R. 403) to end the embargo.

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