The newly Republican-led Senate says there will be hearings to review President Barack Obama's policy to normalize relations with Cuba.
"What you're going to see in the Foreign Relations Committee is a robust set of hearings around all of this," said Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, who chairs that committee, The Hill is reporting.
"Not just the issue of the administration's policies but the embargo itself. This has not been top of mind," he added at the Republican retreat of both Senate and House lawmakers in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Obama announced on Dec. 17 the United States would be easing its restrictions on Cuba.
Beginning Friday,
Americans will be able to travel to the communist island under a U.S. general license as well as bring home $100 in tobacco and alcohol products, including cigars.
In addition, American companies will be able to begin exporting some goods to the country including cellphones, televisions, computers, and software.
It will take an act of Congress to officially lift the embargo.
Corker did not say Thursday whether Congress should move to repeal it, but
he told USA Today earlier in January that the embargo has not had the desired effect.
"That’s a legislative issue obviously, and a much, much bigger step," Corker told The Hill.
"First thing I want to understand is what the administration is attempting to do, what the Castro administration is looking to do ... and then we can look at the bigger policies," he said.
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