Washington, February 13 (RHC) -- A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has presented a bill to allow U.S. companies to do business in Cuba, forbidden by the 50-year-old economic, commercial and financial blockade against the island.

The initiative, called "Freedom to Export to Cuba Act," was presented by Democrat Amy Klobuchar and co-sponsored by Democrats Debbie Stabenow, Patrick Leahy and Richard Durban, as well as Republicans Mike Enzi and Jeff Flake.

"It's time to turn the page on our Cuba policy," Klobuchar said. "Fifty years of the embargo has not secured our interests in Cuba and has disadvantaged U.S. businesses by restricting commerce with a market of 11 million people just 90 miles from our shores."

"There are many issues in our relationship with Cuba that must be addressed, but this legislation to lift the embargo will begin to open up new opportunities for U.S. companies, boost job creation and exports, and help improve the quality of life for the Cuban people," she added.

At the end of last January, U.S. Republican Sen. Jeff Flake from Arizona, along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, Dick Durbin from Illinois, Patrick Leahy from Vermont and Mike Enzi from the U.S. state of Wyoming introduced a bill to put an end to all the legal restrictions that prohibit U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba.