Washington, June 2 (RHC) -– A U.S. House of Representatives panel is trying to prohibit funding for an embassy or other diplomatic facility in Cuba, in a bid to frustrate the Barack Obama administration's efforts to normalize diplomatic ties with Havana.

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations bill, released on Tuesday, prohibits funds to facilitate the opening of a Cuban embassy in the United States.

The legislation also increases so-called “democracy assistance” and illegal U.S. propaganda broadcasts to Cuba and calls on the State Department to refuse visas to members of the Cuban military and Communist Party.

The bill will be considered in the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Wednesday.

Last week, the Obama administration formally removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, taking one step closer to re-establishing diplomatic relations and reopening embassies.