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Posted by Jenna Ebersole on Jan. 5, 2015
As President Barack Obama prepared to announce a seismic shift toward Cuba, at least six lawmakers were returning from the latest of dozens of trips to the island nation in the last five years.
Five Democratic lawmakers and a Republican traveled Dec. 12-16 last year to Havana through an organization called the Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba. The trips were a few of the 21 privately funded travels to Cuba in 2014 by members of Congress or their staffs, a number that could climb higher in the next few weeks as members file final travel disclosure reports.
In 2014, Democrats approved 16 of the trips, while Republicans approved five, at a total cost of nearly $70,000. The Center for Democracy in the Americas sponsored all the trips in 2014 except the latest to Havana.
In the December trip, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Barbara Jean Lee (D-Calif.) so far have all filed paperwork showing they participated. The organization sponsoring the trip works to increase cooperation with the U.S., Cuba and elsewhere around the world to improve health outcomes.
In 2013, travel disclosures show only five trips to Cuba along with seven in 2012. Since January 2010, lawmakers and staffers have traveled to Cuba 59 times at a cost to outside groups of more than $150,000.
Of the trips since 2010, 44 were approved by Democrats and 15 by Republicans.
Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:
Hill Departures - Christopher John Schuler, now Deputy Morning Editor for Daily Dot, formerly Communications Director to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)
- Margot Beausey, now Senior Consultant for Deloitte LLP, formerly Military Legislative Assistant to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
- Kate L. Woods, now Vice President for Northwest Horticultural Council, formerly Legislative Director to Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA)
Hill Moves and Promotions Revolvers - Gabrielle R. Serra,
Lobbies for: Oregon State University
Most recent congressional employment: House Education and the Workforce Committee - Marshall Martin Thomas,
Lobbies for: South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
Most recent congressional employment: Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS)
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Top hashtags of the week
- #gop – (58 mentions)
- #happynewyear – (52 mentions)
- #rosebowl – (41 mentions)
- #2015 – (40 mentions)
- #teaparty – (38 mentions)
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