Cuban-Americans in Congress balk at embassy plans

The U.S. State Department and the Cuban government declared Wednesday that they would re-establish embassies in Cuba and Washington, D.C., but President Barack Obama might have to twist arms in Congress for cooperation. The Republican majority strongly opposes the move to restore diplomatic ties with the Communist country.

Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., protested Wednesday that Fidel Castro continues to commit human rights abuses and smuggle illegal weapons to America’s enemies. He said a Cuban embassy in Washington would not represent the Cuban people. Instead, he said, “It will serve the dictators that will continue to impoverish and oppress.”

Obama has two potential battles ahead of him—funding the embassy and nominating an ambassador.

The U.S. State Department needs Congress to approve $6.6 million to convert the existing U.S. Interests Section in Cuba into an embassy in the next fiscal year. But Congress voted to block funding for the transition last month. A report last year by the inspector general said the interests section is “subject to high winds and salt air and requires constant attention.”

Obama will also have to nominate an ambassador and get approval from the Senate. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, both with Cuban roots, said they would block Obama's ambassador nominees.

The embassy could still get established without an ambassador, and Obama could find other ways of funding it.