Cuba is still a brutal communist dictatorship — one that has treated President Barack Obama with disdain even on his ongoing visit. Yet California’s two U.S. Senators want to establish nonstop flights from Hollywood to Havana.
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued a joint statement on Monday (full text follows):
Washington—Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-Calif.) recently wrote to Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx in support of establishing direct nonstop scheduled air service between California and Cuba.
Following the U.S-Cuba agreement to restore commercial air travel that allows for up to 110 daily direct flights, the Department of Transportation is considering applications for U.S. air carriers.
“It is crucial that all Americans have convenient access to Cuba, including the thousands of companies, businesses, and educational institutions that are clamoring for scheduled air service to Cuba,” the senators wrote. “Direct service from California to Cuba will be an important step in ensuring this engagement.”
The senators continued: “The Los Angeles area is home to the nation’s fourth-largest Cuban-American population, and the Los Angeles community is already serviced with a weekly charter flight to Havana. The demand and need for service from Los Angeles to Havana is proven.”
The full text of the letter follows:
March 18, 2016
Dear Secretary Foxx:
As the Department of Transportation considers applications for U.S. air carriers to provide scheduled direct flights to Cuba, we are writing in support of establishing direct nonstop scheduled air service between our state of California and Cuba.
We were pleased when the Obama Administration announced last month that it had signed an agreement with Cuba to restore commercial air travel between the two countries. Under the terms of that agreement, it allows for up to 110 daily direct flights between our two countries. As the Department reviews applications for the flight allocation, we believe it is crucial that direct scheduled flights to and from California are included.
Scheduled air service will play a key role in the process of normalizing U.S.-Cuba relations and the renewal of direct scheduled flights supports the overall goals of the President’s decision to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. There have been no scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba for over half a century. This kind of agreement allows for direct person-to-person engagement through which we have the best chance to support the Cuban people and will best foster cultural and economic ties between the United States and Cuba.
It is crucial that all Americans have convenient access to Cuba, including the thousands of companies, businesses, and educational institutions that are clamoring for scheduled air service to Cuba. Direct service from California to Cuba will be an important step in ensuring this engagement.
Additionally, the Los Angeles area is home to the nation’s fourth-largest Cuban American population, and the Los Angeles community is already served with a weekly charter flight to Havana. The demand and need for service from Los Angeles to Havana is proven.
For these reasons, nonstop scheduled service between the United States and Cuba will not only benefit California consumers, but will best serve the Department’s goals as it considers applications. We urge you to approve any proposed scheduled service to Cuba from California.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
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(Original emphasis.)
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new e-book, Leadership Secrets of the Kings and Prophets: What the Bible’s Struggles Teach Us About Today, is on sale through Amazon Kindle Direct. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
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