Pelosi leads House delegation to Cuba

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is leading a delegation to Cuba on Tuesday while Congress is out on recess.

It is the first official House delegation trip to Cuba since President Obama announced lifting certain restrictions on Cuba in December.

{mosads}The delegation, comprised of eight other Democratic lawmakers specializing in foreign affairs, trade and agriculture, will meet with Cuban government officials, local community leaders, American officials stationed in Cuba, and Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, the archbishop of Havana.

Pelosi said the lawmakers will discuss potential changes in U.S. policies toward Cuba regarding agriculture and trade issues.

“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,” Pelosi said in a statement.

The other members of the delegation are Reps. Eliot Engel (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Agriculture subcommittee; Collin Peterson (Minn.), the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee; Anna Eshoo (Calif.); Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Small Business Committee; Jim McGovern (Mass.); Steve Israel (N.Y.); and David Cicilline (R.I.).