washington chairman u.s. senate foreign relations committee say wednesday expect congress lift half-century-long embargo cuba year could happen new president change havana president barack obama move quickly toward normal relations havana past 14 months cripple trade embargo one remain major obstacles go happen year think something could happen move new president administration republican senator bob corker tell journalists breakfast sponsor christian science monitor cuba evolve behavior people able see result happen executive order change occur think possible say obama cuban president raul castro announce december 2014 would normalize relations decades hostility change strongly oppose many congressional republicans say cuba need improve human right trade ease obama democrat use executive power ease restrictions travel trade administration announce next month obama would become first u.s. president visit havana since 1928. u.s. trade embargo impose communist-ruled nation 1960 lift without congressional approval republicans control congress although several agree overwhelm majority democrats want embargo end party congressional leaders strongly oppose corker take position note past embargo change cuban policy politics complicate two cuban-american senators vie republican presidential nomination marco rubio ted cruz vocal opponents obama policy party leaders unlikely come campaign corker say things already change although havana still need change appear things gradually move along air flight go seem go year things take hold corker say obviously still tremendous human right abuse take place cuba say senator corker congress wo n't end cuba embargo obama