First Democratic delegation from the US house visits Cuba

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is leading a delegation of Democrats from her chamber who are currently visiting Cuba with the goal of improving U.S. relations with the island; it’s the first delegation of its kind from the House of Representatives.

Pelosi, D-Calif., and eight other Democrats arrived in Cuba on Tuesday. They are planning to meet with Cuban government, local and church officials including Catholic Cardinal Jaime Ortega. They also plan on meeting with officials who represent U.S. interests on the island.

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The visit comes two months after President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced steps toward normalizing relations between the two countries, which have been estranged for half a century.

“This delegation travels to Cuba in friendship and to build upon the announcement of U.S. normalization of relations and other initiatives announced by President Obama,” Pelosi said in a written statement. “This delegation will work to advance the U.S.-Cuba relationship and build on the work done by many in the Congress over the years, especially with respect to agriculture and trade.”

Democrats traveling with Pelosi included Reps. Eliot Engel of New York, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Collin Peterson of Minnesota, lead Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee; and Nydia Velazquez of New York, senior Democrat on the House Small Business Committee.

Earlier this month, U.S. officials had said the Cuban government had postponed all congressional visits until April. But Cuban officials said only some had been delayed because of a large number of requests.

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Non-government figures in the political world of Cuba have been making appearances in the United States as well, including activist blogger Yusnaby Perez, who made an appearance on Univision’s “Al Punto” show to discuss life as a blogger and how he uses a fake name to get by blogging criticisms of Castro’s government without getting into legal trouble.

The U.S. has partially lifted the 54-year-old economic embargo on Cuba, easing restrictions on U.S. telecommunications exports and on American credit and debit card transactions on the island. Only Congress can fully lift the embargo, a move supported by Obama but opposed by congressional Republican leaders.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.