Political Quotes

“Mr. President, Mr. Gross has worked with Cuban communities for many years. In 2009, he was working with USAID to assist Cuba's Jewish community by improving their access to the Internet. As a former social worker who has worked for 25 years in international development, he has a long record of helping people around the world to improve their lives. He was arrested and held without charge for 14 months and later sentenced to 15 years for crimes against the state. Mr. Gross is in failing health. He has lost 100 pounds and suffers from arthritis. He is being held in harsh conditions on trumped-up charges. His family in Maryland has had very limited contact with him. They, too, have faced health challenges and are facing significant financial hardships. I was hopeful that America and Cuba could move closer together--in trade, in community connections, and for individual families who have been separated. I thought these links would help open up Cuba, improve human rights, and enable their country to move toward democracy. Yet the case of Mr. Gross shows that Cuba is not serious about moving forward--for its own people or for its relations with the United States. If Cuba wants to improve relations with the United States, they need to release Mr. Gross now. I will not support easing restrictions or sanctions on Cuba until Mr. Gross is allowed to come home to Maryland.…”