Version of Katko bill limiting air travel between U.S., Cuba introduced by Rubio, Menendez in Senate

A version of legislation authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) to temporarily limit air travel between the United States and Cuba was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday.

U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced Katko’s Cuban Airport Security Act to pause air travel between the two countries until security concerns are resolved.

“I welcome the support of Senators Rubio and Menendez on the issue of the safety and security of Americans traveling to Cuba,” Katko, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said. “The Obama administration’s rush to open regularly scheduled commercial air service between the United States and Cuba without taking proper precautions is negligent, and I am optimistic that the House and Senate will move quickly on legislation to help address safety and security deficiencies. Sen. Rubio has been a leader on issues surrounding the U.S. relationship with Cuba, and I could not ask for a better partner in the Senate to work with on this bill.”

Katko traveled with a bipartisan congressional delegation to Cuba earlier this year to examine security measures in place at Cuban airports after the administration refused to answer congressional questions.

“With so many serious security threats around the world, it is irresponsible to leave key aspects of our airport security in the hands of the anti-American, repressive regime in Cuba,” Rubio said. “President Obama’s legacy should not come before the safety of the American people. It’s extremely concerning that airlines operating in Cuba are not allowed to hire their own workers, and airport staff are employees of the Cuban government. This increases the likelihood that someone on the inside seeking to harm the United States could gain access to sensitive flight data and controls. I have opposed commercial flight service to Cuba because it will only empower and enrich the regime, not the Cuban people.”