{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398292", "U.S. Rep. Kathy Castors statement on first regular commercial flight today between Tampa and Cuba", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cNew commercial airline service between Tampa and Cuba marks another important milestone for families on both sides of the Florida Straits. I am proud that the Tampa community has been at the forefront of positive change in America\u2019s relationship with the Cuban people. We must turn the page on the Cold War policies of the past and build new bridges to jobs and economic opportunities for Tampa residents and the Cuba people. The regular Southwest Airline flight from Tampa International Airport is the culmination of years of advocacy with the Obama Administration. The flight is affordable and will connect families, students, cultural institutions at a pivotal time in the history of U.S./Cuba relations.\u201d\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      \u201cNew commercial airline service between Tampa and Cuba marks another important milestone for families on both sides of the Florida Straits. I am proud that the Tampa community has been at the forefront of positive change in America\u2019s relationship with the Cuban people. We must turn the page on the Cold War policies of the past and build new bridges to jobs and economic opportunities for Tampa residents and the Cuba people. The regular Southwest Airline flight from Tampa International Airport is the culmination of years of advocacy with the Obama Administration. The flight is affordable and will connect families, students, cultural institutions at a pivotal time in the history of U.S./Cuba relations.\u201d\r\nCuba Travel Timeline \r\n12/16/2008 \u2013 Castor letter to President-elect Barack Obama\r\n \r\n    Requesting a fresh look at U.S.-Cuban relations, call to expand family travel opportunities\r\n \r\n2/3/2009 \u2013 Castor letter to Mr. Tom Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner of United States Customs & Border Protection \r\n \r\n    Requesting that he consider adding Tampa to the list of designated cities so that it can act as a port of entry/exit in U.S.-Cuba air charter flights\r\n \r\n04/13/2009 \u2013 President Obama lifts travel restrictions for families\r\n4/14/2009 - Letters to Secretary Locke, Secretary Clinton, Secretary Geithner \r\n \r\n    Requesting addition of Tampa Airport to the current list of cities designated under Title 19 CFR, Chapter 1, Part 122, Section 122.153 as authorized port of entry/exit for U.S.-Cuba air charter flights.\r\n \r\n7/20/2010 \u2013 Castor signs on to bill to lift travel ban for all Americans (first in Florida delegation to do so)\r\n1/14/2011 \u2013 President Obama expands airports and travel opportunities\r\n2/3/2011 \u2013 Castor letter of support for Tampa International Airport\u2019s application for permission to accept Cuba charter flights \r\n3/7/2011 \u2013 Tampa International Airport Gets Federal OK for Charter Flights to Cuba \r\n7/27/2011 \u2013 ABC Charter receives landing rights from TIA to Havana\r\n9/8/2011 \u2013 First charter flight from Tampa to Havana\r\n3/9/2016 \u2013 Castor letter to Secretary Foxx supporting applications for direct commercial flights from Tampa International Airport to Cuba\r\n8/31/2016 \u2013 Final selection of U.S. airlines, cities for new service to Havana, including Southwest Airlines direct service from Tampa to Havana\r\n12/12/2016 \u2013 Inaugural Southwest Airlines flight from Tampa to Havana\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398292"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8574069254100323, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}