Washington, June 12 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed a bill on Friday that prevents using funds to reopen the country's embassy in Cuba. The legislation was proposed earlier this month.

The move follows the joint decision last year by the two countries to re-establish diplomatic relations after 53 years without them. Today’s vote was part of the budget for the State Department and its foreign operations next year. However, embassies are an essential concrete measure in re-establishing diplomatic relations.

Washington's economic blockade of Cuba also remains in place, despite international calls to revoke it. However, also on Friday, two U.S. senators presented a new bill to lift the blockade. Should that be passed, the U.S. private sector would be legally permitted to sell its goods and services in Cuba.