Marco Rubio

I am very proud. They are one of the first United States businesses to take advantage of new economic opportunities in Cuba that my colleagues, some who sit on this committee, would take away.

Is it not true that the vast majority of the impediment to access to the Internet and technology in Cuba is a result of Cuban Government censorship?

Their views on human rights are not legitimate. They are immoral.

I think we must do everything we can to promote robust ties between the citizens of the United States and Cuba.

Human rights and freedom of expression must be central to all of our engagements with the Cuban Government.

Despite differences we may have with the government, our foreign policy should always endeavor to support the country's people.

The President's policy has reset the geopolitical calculus in the region and will provide new opportunities for cooperation.

Our previous policy did not achieve the progress that we wanted to see, so a new approach is needed.

Our goal has been, and always will be, to facilitate peaceful changes that lead to a free and pluralistic Cuba.

Unfortunately, our sanctions on Cuba have denied Cubans access to technology that has empowered individuals around the world.

So then why would we not limit our opening in travel to say that if you travel to Cuba, you can only stay at one of these casas particulares or one of these other nongovernmental, nonmilitary-owned facilities?

There is no moral equivalence between our view of human rights and theirs?

I also want to thank Senator Boxer.

We have no illusions the Cuban Government will change its behavior simply because of our new policy approach.

And that is our hope here, to see what we can do with American foreign policy to bring that day about soon.

The Cuban Adjustment Act.

The important point is that the Government of Cuba is really not sovereign because they are not elected. They are a totalitarian government.

Cuba will change when the laws that enable and protect the criminal behavior of the forces of repression and corrupt elements that sustain the regime change.

Every single member of this committee, I believe the vast majority of American people, and this administration, as well as my leadership of my party, all share the goal of a free and democratic Cuba.

It is very important that the U.S. Government continues to help Cuba but that the aid be directed to the people, to civil society and not to the government because, unfortunately, the government uses the resources that are sent to repress…

Would it be a mistake to move forward on changes with policy toward Cuba without direct and ongoing consultation with civil society and the democratic opposition on the island.

The United States can engage the Cuban democratic community, with all its plurality, and sustain a frank, measured, and honest conversation with it.

The pursuit of friendship between the United States of America and Cuba is inseparable from the pursuit of liberty.

No country ever became a democracy simply because of trade and tourists.

We condemn any conditions or restrictions placed on citizens who peacefully exercise their fundamental freedoms, whether they are recently released political prisoners or not.