Since President Obama announced back in December 2014 that the United States would have a full restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba, many citizens have been happily awaiting the chance to freely travel to the island nation.

On Saturday, as reported in Reuters, Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Ben Cardin of Maryland, and Republican senator Dean Heller of Nevada visited the communist country. The senators expressed their hope that Congress would soon support President Barack Obama's plans to ease relations with Cuba, which for many people means the lifting of the travel ban.

Aside from talking with the people of Cuba, the trio met with Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, as well as with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. The House just rejected a measure that would have relaxed travel restrictions earlier this month.

Cardin expressed his faith in the future, saying, "We're optimistic this path that President Obama and President (Raul) Castro started will be continued," while Heller took time to explain how a change in policy might come, saying, "I think the Senate can move the House, but the Senate's going to have to act first."

As of now there are a number of Cuba initiatives pending in the Senate. Aside from a bill intended to remove the travel ban for U.S. citizens, there is a also bill meant to rescind the U.S. economic embargo.

The president has asked Congress to act in his favor but the legislation is opposed by the Republican leadership who control the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Speaking at the Summit of the Americas in April about the improving relationship between the United States and Cuba, as reported by the New York Times, Obama said, “The United States will not be imprisoned by the past -- we’re looking to the future.”

“I’m not interested in having battles that frankly started before I was born.”