A proposed U.S. House of Representatives appropriations bill released on Tuesday excludes funds for opening a U.S. embassy in Cuba.

If approved, the measure would increase “democracy assistance” and international broadcasting to Cuba, as well as lend guidance to the Secretary of State with regards to denying visas to members of the Cuban military and the Communist Party.

In recent weeks several republicans on the House Appropriations Committee expressed their opposition to the provision on funds towards opening a U.S. embassy in Cuba.

The White House had initially requested for an additional US$6.6 million in funding required to establish an embassy.

The proposed embassy, which would be installed in the building that currently houses the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba, was built in 1953, requiring costly infrastructure renovations.

The United States finally removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism last Friday, a significant step toward restoring diplomatic ties between the two countries.