Cuba remains a one-party Communist state that continues to restrict the most basic rights of its citizens.

the State Department as an institution which is responsible for conducting our Nation's diplomacy was kept in the dark.

I strongly support President Obama's decision to chart a new course in United States-Cuba relations.

Let me be as clear today on this issue as I was in December that 18 months of secret negotiations produced a bad deal, a bad deal for the Cuban people while it may have been done with the best of intentions, in my view with compromised…

I am also concerned that the 53 prisoners were not released unconditionally and continue to force legal hurdles, and that several of them have been rearrested, including Marcelino Abreu Bonora, who was violently beaten by Cuban security…

Let me be as clear on this issue as I have been since December--18 months of secret negotiations produced a bad deal, bad for the Cuban people.

this was not 'a transactional process.'

I am concerned that there was not one substantial step toward transparent democratic elections, improved human rights, freedom of assembly, or the ability to form independent political parties and independent trade unions.

Is it not true that the Castro regime is providing sanctuary to members of organizations that the State Department has named as foreign terrorist organizations?

Is it not true that the State Department considers a foreign government providing sanctuary to a terrorist that has committed a terrorist in another country to be support for international terrorism?

Oh, yes, but you cannot break a monopoly unless the regime allows a monopoly to be broken.

Basically, what he was trying to do is create greater openings for the Cuban people within the context of the Cuban constitution.

Human rights abuses continue unabated with more than 1,600 cases of arbitrary political arrests this year alone, only 5 months into the year.

human rights and democracy programs in Cuba will not be cut

I do not think so.

the suggestion that the embargo has created this problem--Cuba can buy from many places in the world.

To seek those basic democratic and human rights principles that we enjoy here at home and observe throughout most of the world.

I am really happy that our first hearing of this new Congress is on an area of bipartisan concern and interest.