Nothing normal about Cuba policy on Capitol Hill.

Byline: Frank Davies

WASHINGTON _ Strong majorities in the House and Senate have approved similarly worded measures to end the ban on Americans traveling to Cuba. Normally, that would ensure final passage.

But there's nothing normal about Cuba policy on Capitol Hill.

President Bush has pledged to veto any bill with such a provision, and House Republican leaders have said they will work to remove it when a conference committee of House and Senate members approves a final version of the Treasury-Transportation appropriations bill.

In a few weeks, Republican leaders say, it's likely that several spending measures will be wrapped up into one omnibus bill to fund most of the federal government for the next year. With bigger issues getting attention during the hectic end of a congressional session, that would make it even easier to drop the Cuba provision behind closed doors.

That's what has happened before.

"The people who do appropriations are a practical type not likely to play chicken with the president," said Roger Noriega, assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere and a longtime Senate staff member.