On Friday, members of the Congressional Black Caucus will take a trip to Cuba in an effort to strengthen diplomatic ties with the nation.

 “Diplomacy and a new way of looking at our foreign policy just makes sense,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), told The Associated Press.

 The trip coincides with increased talk about reducing the trade embargo and travel restrictions to the nation. Earlier this week, a group of senators threw their support behind a bill that would allow Americans to travel to Cuba, except in the case of special precautions.

 Though lawmakers may want to ease economic restrictions against the nation, that does not mean the Communist government will benefit as a result; the officials are just looking to take a different approach toward the embargo that has been in place for decades, Lee said.

 “It’s a country that we’ve had an embargo against for what, 40 years, but it hasn’t worked. American citizens should have a right to travel to determine their own points of view,” Lee told the AP.