WASHINGTON -- Opponents of a plan to open Cuba to U.S. tourists are touting a letter signed by 53 Democrats in the House of Representatives, saying it shows that they have the votes to derail an effort to lift the ban on travel to the island.

The letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., urges the House leadership to maintain the current U.S. policy on Cuba.

"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," the letter says. Among the signers are 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.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, who helped gather the signatures, said the letter was aimed at showing that a number of Democrats opposed easing sanctions against Cuba, a stance that's traditionally associated with Republicans.

"We felt it was important to show that when push comes to shove, the votes aren't there," Wasserman Schultz said. "The number of Republicans opposed, combined with these Democrats, would seem to spell that it would not be successful."

Proponents of lifting the decades-old travel ban, however, said they had 180 sponsors to repeal it and that the letter didn't change the outlook for passing 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. "People are realizing it's simply anathema to common sense to deny the American people the right to travel to Cuba when they have the right to travel to North Korea, to Iran."

The issue, though not the legislation, will be the subject of a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.

The letter notes that President Barack Obama has lifted travel restrictions for those with family members on the island but that he's said he backs further sanctions.