Representative Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) announced Thursday that she is signing on to the House bill that hopes to open travel to Cuba to all Americans.

"There is great potential for new jobs and economic growth throughout the Tampa Bay area if travel and trade opportunities are expanded over the coming years.

The Port of Tampa, Tampa International Airport, area businesses and our neighbors are well positioned for new economic opportunities," Castor said in a press release.

Castor will cosponsor H.R. 874 by Representative Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. She also is renewing her call to designate Tampa International Airport as a port of entry and departure for charter flights to Cuba.

"Tampa Bay families traveling to and from Cuba are suffering economic hardship and severe inconvenience by having to travel to Miami in order to fly to Cuba,"she said. Currently, charter flights to Cuba depart only from Miami, Los Angeles and New York City.