now we go to mr. sires of new jersey. >> thank you. mr. smith and mr. berman, can you tell me what percentage of the cuban businesses are owned privately? >> i can't tell you a precise percentage but certainly there are over 200 categories of private sector economic activity that are authorized by the cuban government. so we recognize. >> authorized by the cuban government. >> they're legal and there are private businesses. >> mr. smith, do you? >> don't have any. >> i can tell you. about 15%. 85% of the businesses in cuban are owned by the military. the hotels are owned by the military. the bed and breakfasts are run by the families of the military. the umbrella agency that approves all businesses are the son-in-law of one of the cast rose. so when you -- castros. so when you say the cuban people, which i'm interested in, are going to benefit by doing business with the cuban people you're not reaching very many people. you know, the private sector that runs the hotdog stand, maybe. but we're talking about the big businesses which employ people is run b

. >> thank you mr. sires. mr. chabot of ohio. >> thank you madam chairman and thank you for calling this important hearing to discuss the administration's new cuban policy that i believe president obama's announcement to unilaterally change u.s. policy toward cuba sets a dangerous precedent. in fact it furthers an ongoing pattern of his utter disregard for congress that that's the way this administration operates. it gives a backhand to the elected representatives of the american people treats congress like the proverbial mushroom. keep them in the dark and feed them a newer. ms. jacobsen jacobs and you said there were new concessions and this wasn't necessarily something that the cuban government -- those statements on their face or just not credible. you also said the obama administration was under no illusion about the nature of the cuban government. i would submit that the administration is just about as naÏve about the nature of the cuban government apparently has that was about isis when the president famous

. >> thank you mr. sires. mr.chabot of ohio. >> thank you madam chairman and thank you for calling this very important hearing to discuss the administration's new cuban policy. i believe president obama's announcement to unilaterally change u.s. policy toward cuba sets a dangerous precedent. in fact, it furthers an ongoing pattern of his utter disregard for congress but that's the way this administration operates. it gives a backhand to the elected representatives of the american people, treats congress like the proverbial mushroom. keep them in the dark and feed them manure. mrs. jacobsen, and you said there were new concessions and this wasn't necessarily something that the cuban government -- those statements on their face or just not credible. you also said the obama administration was under no illusion about the nature of the cuban government. i would submit that the administration is just about as naive about the nature of the cuban government apparently has -- as it was about isis when the president famousl

i think as mr. sires pointed out, money that goes into that country is going to be controlled by the government. and if you are going to argue differently, why is it that really we're the only country that has had these restrictions. you had open relations with switzerland, australia. how come with all of those ties the cuban people have not benefited? you said in your testimony and response to mr. poe that the cuban people are not better off after 50 years of our policy. if all the other countries in the world are so good, why haven't the cuban people benefited from those policies? >> i think part of problem in term of the actual economic policy in cuba is that they have not modernized their system opened their system, made a foreign investment law that adequately attracts investment to have those other countries be part of it. >> they said they are not going to change. he said they are not changing. he said this is a victory for the cuban revolution and we're not going to change. i don't see where you g

world in enforcing real progress in helping with the human rights issue and finally to build on mr. sires question how do we ensure that this economic engagement that is intended here intended to support the cuban people does not instead fortified the government at this very critical time? how do we protect against unintended consequence when we think we are helping entrepreneurs in the private sector strengthened but at the same time and affect helping the government while others are beginning to retract some of their support. >> thank you. a couple of things. on engaging our allies there are a couple of thoughts i have about that. one is that all of the countries in the region as well as our european allies and others, many of them were hesitant if not outright refused to engage with many of the democracy activists for years. i am very optimistic not having seen concrete results already that they have lost that fear with their change in policy. i think that's usually important. the rhetoric outside the country's important in dialogue but engaging with these activists and supporting them

experiences and passionate leadership on cuban-american relations by the chairwoman ros-lehtinen and mr. sires and i thank you for being so open with your experiences to the committee pretty think it adds to our understanding of these complicated issues. all members of this committee are equally committed to helping the cuban people achieve freedom and democracy and a difference in opinion is what the best strategy for bringing that about. i think the witnesses for being here today and i expect he will continue to keep congress informed throughout these discussions with the cuban government. i am hopeful and i think most americans are hopeful that the president can engage in real and substantive negotiations with the cuban government and will pass than united states invented the cuban people. like most americans i remain deeply concerned about the long records of human rights abuses that have been caused at the hands of the cuban dictatorship. while our current policy brings about change cuba as we update our policy or think we have to make sure we are doing it in a measured comprehensive and

mr. sires: unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from new jersey is recognid r on . mr. se mr. speaker, i rise today to acknowledge jersry city new jersey, on its diversity and economic growth in the shadows of the statute of liberty, it is the second largest city in new jersey, and recently named the country's most diverse city. jersey city's history is a city of immigrants has contributed to its current economic boom. in the 19th and 20th century an influx of immigrants from europe flocked to new jersey city to achieve the dream. increasingly immigrants have now been arriving from south america asia, africa, and middle east seeking the same american dream and finding it in jersey city. immigrants of the city have long contributed to the economy by opening small businesses and joining the job market. just in the past year, jersey city has seen an upgraded its credit rating, continued decline in unemployment, and every increasing sky line. as far as the diversity, over half of