The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urges the House leadership to maintain the current U.S. policy on Cuba, seeking to blunt the momentum that proponents of lifting the travel ban have claimed under a Democratic president and Democratic-led Congress.

The letter says, "Any legislation that would seek to ease or lift sanctions ... would send a devastating message to Cuba's opposition movement and legitimize an ailing dictatorship." Signers included Reps. Ben Chandler of Kentucky; Henry Cuellar of Texas; Brad Miller, Heath Shuler, and Mike McIntyre of North Carolina; Jim Marshall of Georgia, and Ike Skelton of Missouri.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.), who helped gather the signatures, said the letter aimed to show that a number of Democrats opposed easing sanctions against Cuba, a stance that is traditionally associated with Republicans.

"We felt it was important to show that when push comes to shove, the votes aren't there," she said.

Proponents of repealing the decades-old travel ban, however, said that they had 180 sponsors to do so and that the letter did not change the outlook for passage of the bill.

"We're continuing to gather support," said Rep. Bill Delahunt (D., Mass.), who has sponsored one of several bills that seek to allow Americans to travel to Cuba.