WASHINGTON, November 9, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is leading a group of Democratic lawmakers to Cuba this week. 

Vilsack will be accompanied on the trip that starts Wednesday and ends Saturday by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Reps. Terri Sewell of Alabama, Suzan DelBene of Washington and Kurt Schrader of Oregon. 

The schedule includes meetings with Cuban government officials in agriculture, foreign affairs, and food purchasing and visits to port facilities, markets and cooperatives. 

“This trip will be an opportunity to support the administration’s commitment to normalizing relations and empowering the Cuban people through bilateral agricultural engagement,” Vilsack said. 

“Food and agricultural goods are the dominant U.S. exports to Cuba and agriculture can serve as a bridge to foster cooperation, understanding and the exchange of ideas.

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