Well, not really. But American tourists are one tiny step closer to Cuba’s fine cigars and sandy beaches, thanks to a House Agriculture Committee vote narrowly recommending an end to the decades-old travel ban. Pro-embargo lawmakers in the House and Senate are expected to work their usual magic to defeat the measure.

Christian Science Monitor:

On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee wrangled over the legislation, finally voting 25 to 20 to recommend it to the full House. The divided vote reflected some members’ suspicion that the Agriculture Committee – which largely favored the farm-trade aspects of the bill – was being used by travel-rights advocates to get the lifting of the travel ban to the House floor.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee may also consider the legislation before it moves to the floor.

The Agriculture Committee’s close vote appears to portend rough days ahead for the bill, even though proponents of liberalizing US exchange with Cuba thought this was the best opportunity in years to chip away at the US embargo on Cuba.

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