Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi leads first official House delegation to Cuba

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats are scheduled to arrive in Cuba Tuesday for the first official delegation to the country since President Obama moved closer to diplomatic ties with the island nation.

The group plans to meet with Cuban officials, "Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, local community leaders and representatives, and American officials at the U.S. interests section," Pelosi said in a written statement.

The group includes Democratic Reps. Eliot Engel of New York, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Anna Eshoo of California, Nydia Velázquez of New York, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Steve Israel of New York and David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

"This delegation travels to Cuba in friendship and to build upon the announcement of U.S. normalization of relations and other initiatives announced by President Obama," she said. "This delegation will work to advance the U.S.-Cuba relationship and build on the work done by many in the Congress over the years, especially with respect to agriculture and trade."