Klobuchar, Emmer to join Obama on visit to Cuba

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer will join President Barack Obama on his history-making trip to Cuba next weekend.

Klobuchar, a Democrat, and the Republican Emmer made the announcement Sunday.

Klobuchar is the lead Senate sponsor of legislation to lift the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba. Emmer is leading a similar effort in the House.

"Congressman Emmer and I are working on a bipartisan effort to lift the trade embargo with Cuba so that we can boost exports and create jobs in the United States," Klobuchar said. "In Minnesota, exports to Cuba could double if the embargo were lifted."

Emmer said "expanding our markets, strengthening our national security, and improving relationships with our next door neighbor should be a nonpartisan issue."

"Minnesota is the third largest agricultural exporter in the country, and we have a great potential to benefit from millions of new consumers right here in our own backyard," he said.

Obama's trip to Havana marks the first time a sitting president will set foot in Cuba in nearly nine decades.