mr. castro of texas. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 125, the gentleman from texas, mr. castro, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. castro: thank you mr. speaker. my amendment would require states to provide a blueprint for college and career counseling opportunities for homeless youth. this is a bipartisan amendment in fact, i want to thank very much mr. stivers of ohio and his staff who were very helpful in drafting this amendment. we know that there are an estimated 1.6 million homeless youth and runaways in this country and we also know that they're especially vulnerable to falling through the cracks of our educational system this would simply ask states to show how they're going to help these youth with career and college readiness. and mr. speaker, i'd like to yield a minute to my league from colorado mr. jared polis. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. polis: i want to thank mr. castro for his leadership on this important issue. before i came to congress, i co-founded a chart

mr. castro of texas. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 125, the gentleman from texas, mr. castro, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. castro: thank you, mr. speaker. this is a commonsense amendment that seeks to appoint a neutral person within the department of education to address student k-12 textbook standards and concerns. this neutral person would be somebody who could receive complaints from students teachers administrators anybody in the schools. this person would be independent of the secretary and most importantly, because i know we yield much power to the states over curriculum and textbooks, this is somebody that would not have any authority to make binding decisions, to overturn state decisions, but somebody who could help take in complainlts or concerns, also help resolve those concerns within the states. sometimes between publishers in the states for example, and the reason that i brought this amendment forward, there are a few reasons. first, in different states as in my state of texas for ex

mr. castro of texas. >> thank you madam chairman. like many of my colleagues i've been moved by the testimony of the cuban-americans and many cuban-americans, particularly the more seen your generation lost their family members, lost property, lost their livelihoods in their country. and for many years i think much of our foreign policy towards cuba was in great deference to that fact. and when you hear the stories, that's very understandable. i do think with the president's change in normalization in diplomatic relations towards cuba that the power of american culture and the power of our technology and our democracy will ultimately win out. and i think that in many ways this was the start of a new revolution in cuba, and as the castro brothers are in the winter of their reign, i see this as positioning the united states for when they are gone. so with that in mind let me ask you how does it position our country vis-a-vis cuba once these folks are no longer in power? >> thank you congressman. i think this really is the question ques

mr. castro's gulag. i want to thank you for convening this important hearing for your unyielding and passionate commitment to human rights, to freedom. not just for the oppressed people of cuba but for all people. who suffer under oppressive regimes and who continue to seek even the most basic human rights. everywhere you find a political prisoner, there you will find mr. smith. so thank you for that. i also want to welcome our wonderful witnesses. all champions of freedom on the island and the faces of what freedom will look like. these are brave pro democracy activists who have seen fist hand the brutality of the regime by the constant arrests and beatings they have had to endure. the isolation that they have had to endure while in jail. they did not have food prepared especially for them. they were starved. and after this hearing they will be going back to cuba. amazingly enough as you pointed out mr. smith to continue the fight for freedom and democracy. berta will be marching this very sunday. by th

the people of cuba, the resources meant for the cuban people, the castros will take to strengthen the apparatus. >> thank you so much, mrsmith. thank you for calling this important hearing. thank you to our witnesses who are victims of the castro regime, for being here today. i am humbled to be in your presence. some of you live in cuba. others are here now but have family in cuba, so i know you are very brave for being here today. this is sort of an insurance policy that you have offered them, mr. smith because by being here today, perhaps they will have some degree of protection that those other figures, as brave as you are will not have. so i know you worry about them. thank you for holding up their photos. thank you for describing the current dismal human rights situation in my native homeland of cuba. i wanted to just give the statement and then ask you some questions. how has the regime's treatment changed since december 17? how does the regime manipulate the press in the united states and elsewhere, and visitors and tourists on the island that may come back here with a distorted picture of what is going on? this

mr. castro: thank you mr. speaker. mr. speaker -- ms. castor: thank you mr. speaker. i ask that the house bring up h.r. 861 that quoo keep the department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the american people safe. the speaker pro tempore: as previously announced, unanimous consent request cannot be entertained. mr. polis: mr. speaker, my colleague from california, ms. chu, has a solution to the funding impasse at d.h.s. i'd like to yield to her for the purposes of a unanimous consent request. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from california is recognized. ms. chu: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the house bring up h.r. 861, the clean department of homeland security funding bill that would keep the department open so it can carry out the mission of keeping the american people safe. the speaker pro tempore: as previously announced, the unanimous consent request cannot be entertained. mr. polis: mr. speaker, i yield to the gentlelady from michigan, mrs. dingell, for the purposes of a unanimous consent request. the speaker pro tempore: the g

mr. castro's gu log. i want to thank you for convening this important hearing for your unyielding and passionate commitment to human rights, to freedom. not just for the oppressed people of cuba but for all people people. who who continue to seek even the most basic human rights. everywhere you find a political prisoner there you will find mr. smith. so thank you for that. and want to thank you all, champions of freedom on the island and the falgs of what the democratic democratic faces of cuba will look like. these are brave pro democracy activists who have seen fist hand the brutality of the regime by the constant arrests and beats they have had to endure. the isolation that they have had to endure while in jail. they did not have food prepared especially for them. they were starved. and after this hearing they will be going back to cuba. amazingly enough as you pointed out mr. smith to continue the fight for freedom and democracy. ber that will be marching this very sunday. and there were 13 detentions

mr. castro. give us the money before we talk about anything else? it is your money, the taxpayer's money. the administration is not giving your money back. >> if i could ask mr. duran to follow up on that point. if i could ask mr. duran real quickly to follow up on that point, that which is a central one i think that cuba policy for too long in the united states has been based in eyes of many on cuban exile anger which is obviously very justified but not the basis for sound foreign policy perhaps. i wonder if you could address that. >> that has been precisely the point. that is why it is so important what president obama has done. up until now u.s. foreign policy towards cuba did not exist. it was u.s. policy for elections to get electoral votes in new jersey and florida and get political contributions from wealthy cubans in new jersey and in florida. that is what has determine u.s. foreign policy towards cuba until now. now first time there is foreign policy toward cuba. that is the president obama is doing. he is not taking electoral policy or pol

mr. chairman. i appreciate this. i applaud chairman castro for suggesting this briefing on the state of civil rights at immigration detention facilities. this is an extremely important and timely topic particularly in light of the plans of some in congress to continue to mandate a detention bed quota and the administration's expansion of detention of families with children. last year's temporary but dramatic flow of unaccompanied minors from central america fleeing harm and seeking asylum in the u.s. spotlights the need for the government agencies to be extremely thoughtful about who is detained and how we can better employ alternatives to detention, particularly when women, children, and families are involved. it has also added even greater urgency to the need for government to do everything it can to oversee detention facilities so that the conditions of detention are consistent with international human rights standards, federal and state laws and our highest values of compassion as americans. i would like to thank everyone who will be test

mr. castro. mr. ever of minnesota. >> thank you madam chair and thank you, panel. it's interesting. i hear often in the past few weeks that if something hasn't been working for 50 years, you should look at changing it. but nobody seems to go directly to the issue except some of the comments i've heard today about how nothing has changed within the country. and i'm interested in a couple of things, because much of it has been covered already. but the president's growth with policy by conducting a couple white house aides for this policy. ms. jacobson, you seem to at some point have been brought in and made aware of what's going on. what happened in that moment of time where the president decided to appoint these two to negotiate secretly with the cubans and why? why did he break from policy? >> i can't answer that question on behalf of the president. what i can tell you is that one of the two people engaged in those discussions is a foreign service officer on loan to the white house, a foreign service officer who is one of our foremost experts on cuba, having served there and on the

castro. that's a disaster.ktbúnut;x#uté >> only two ways -- >> if i can just ask mr. the two largest protestkp we have seen in the last two years in cuba were actually protests by entrepreneurs who were protesting -- that's the truth -- the ones with the largest -- frank, there was one with 500 people in the street, mostly entrepreneurs. i know you don't want to recognize entrepreneurs if i may, it's my turn. amnesty has called for a lifting of the embargo. and so has human rights watch. our policy-again, it goes back to whether we're trying to micromanage the transition from the united states and not talk or visit cuba and hope by demanding everything they will do everything we want or try to engage in constructive ways and empower civil society. civil society is not just a handful of dissidents that agree with a particular policy here everybody that is opposed to the government, the entire opposition movement. all dissident, not only that. entrepreneurs, academics, artists, anybody seeking to increase their autonomy from the state, they're the people we should be he

mr. castro of texas. >> i have been moved by the testimony and also my colleague cuban-american and many,rticularly the the more senior generation lost family members, property, they're livelihoods in they're country and for many years much of our foreign policy was in great deference to that fact. when you here the stories it is understandable. i think i think with the president's change in normalization of diplomatic relations the power of american culture and our technology and democracy will ultimately win out and in many ways was the start of a new revolution. i see this as positioning the united states for when they are gone. how does it position our country once these books are no longer in power? >> thank you. this is the question. one of the critical things is the next generation of activists, leaders. one of the most important things is how we work with the current human rights activists and leaders the new entrepreneurs and artists. how do we encourage them. performance art and asked cubans to speak openly 300 artists wrote in support it is novel and important. >> true. in in p

mr. castro of texas. >> thank you, chairwoman. like many of my colleagues, i have been muferede by the testimony and my colleague, a cuban american and many cuban americans, particularly the more senior generation lost their family members and property and lost their livelihoods in their country and more many years, i think much of our foreign policy towards cuba was in great donchese that fact. when you -- deference to that fact. when you hear the story, that is understandable. i think with the president's change in normalizeation and diplomatic relations towards cuba that the power of american culture and the power of technology and our democracy will ultimately win out. i think in many ways this was the start of a new revolution in cuba. as the castro brothers are in the winter of their reign, i see this as positioning the united states for when they are gone. let me ask you how does it position our country once these folks are no longer in power? >> thank you congressman. i think, you know, this really is the question, one of

castro regime and the regime keeps demanding more from us. pay us billions of dollars from the losses we suffered from the embargo, utterly ridiculous. and just yesterday, mr. secretary, castro bestowed metals on those whom your administration pardoned, including gerardo hernandez, who was responsible for killing u.s. citizens on the very anniversary of the killing of our citizens castro gave a medal to his killer, a killer who was pardoned by this administration. of all the bad deals that we have seen bergdahl, et cetera isn't this cuba deal the weakest one yet? and on venezuela, mr. secretary, yesterday, just a few days ago a 14-year-old child was killed by police thugs, actually just yesterday, 14 years old. he was shot in the head during a peaceful protest. we in congress passed a sanctions law to punish such acts, but you have not fully implemented our law. states decision to deny some visas to some people is only a small slap on the wrist. people are dying in venezuela and all we're hearing are excuses. enough is enough, why have you not fully implemented every one of the sanctions laws that we passed against human rights violators in venezuela? how

mr. castro of texas. >> thank you, chairwoman.like many of my colleagues, i have been muferede by the testimony and my colleague, a cuban american and many cuban americans, particularly the more senior generation lost their family members and property and lost their livelihoods in their country and more many years, i think much of our foreign policy towards cuba was in great donchese that fact. when you -- deference to that fact. when you hear the story, that is understandable. i think with the president's change in normalizeation and diplomatic relations towards cuba that the power of american culture and the power of technology and our democracy will ultimately win out. i think in many ways, this was the start of a new revolution in cuba. as the castro brothers are in the winter of their reign, i see this as positioning the united states for when they are gone. let me ask you how does it position our country once these folks are no longer in power? >> thank you, congressman. i think, you know, this really is the question, one of

mr. castro: a select few are holding our government hostage. not only was this -- would this bad strategy force more than 40,000 border patrol agents out of work but also 40,000 active duty coast guard and military members more than 50,000 t.s.a. aviation security screeners, it would cause all tease folks either out of work or work without pay indefinitely. in my home state of texas, there are more than 24,000 homeland security employees who could face similar impacts. if republicans want to prove they can lead congress, they shouldn't manufacture a bogus crisis, they should fund the agency responsible for protecting our agency at once. the american people deserve better than these unnecessary political games. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? ms. ros-lehtinen: to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. ros-lehtinen:

castro. that's a disaster. >> mr. herrero? >> frank there's -- >> if i could just ask mr. herrero to weigh in on that. >> the two large protests that we've seen in the last two years in cuba were actually protests by entrepreneurs -- [laughter] who were protesting -- that's the truth. >> come on. >> there was one with 500 people in the street. i know you don't want to recognize entrepreneurs. >> look at amnesty international. >> if i may, it's my turn. amnesty, by the way has called for a lifting of the embargo. and so has human rights watch. our policy, again, it goes back to whether we're trying to micromanage, not visit cuba and just hope that by us demanding they'll do everything we want or try to engage in constructive ways and empower civil society. now, civil society is not just a handful of dissidents that agree with a particular policy here, it's everybody that is a opposed to the government, all dissidents, but not only that entrepreneurs, academics, artists, anybody who is seeking to increase their autonomy from the state. they're the folks that we should be hel

of cuba the resources that are meant for the cuban people are all castro will take to strengthen the apparatus. >> thank you so much mr. smith. thank you for calling this important hearing. thank you to our witnesses who are victims of the castro regime for being here today. antunis, berta, i'm humbled to be in your presence. some of you live in cuba others are here now but have family in cuba, so i know you are very brave for being here today. this is sort of an insurance policy that you have offered them, mr. smith, because by being here today perhaps they will have some degree of protection that those other figures, as brave as you are, won't have. so i know you worry about them. thank you for holding up their photos. thank you for describing the current dismal human rights situation in my native homeland of cuba. and i wanted to just give this statement and then ask you some questions. how has the regime's treatment of its critics changed since december 17th? do you think this announcement will force changes? i'll ask you to respond in a minute. how does the regime manipulate the press here in the united states an

mr. guzmÁn in the audience today he served 22 years in castro's present. mr. would like to ask unanimous consent to submit into the record from the international committee from former cuban prisoners documenting a a list of the many cuban two are still languishing in castro's gulags and thank you to mr. guzmÁn for pointing that out. >> i want to thank you so very much for convening this important hearing unyielding and passionate commitment to human rights freedom not just for the oppressed people of cuba but for all people everywhere who suffer under oppressive regimes and continue to seek the most basic and fundamental rights for many people that they take for granted. everywhere there is an oppressed person, a political prisoner, their you will find mr. smith. we thank you for that. we look at those faces. that's the freak you tomorrow. these are brave boat -- pro-democracy activists who has seen firsthand the brutality of the regime by the constant arrest and beatings that they have had to endure, the isolation that they had to endure. we do not have to pre

castro regime and the regime keeps demanding more from us. pay us billions of dollars from the losses we suffered from the embargo, utterly ridiculous. and just yesterday, mr. secretary, castro bestowed metals on those whom your administration pardoned, including the one responsible for killing u.s. citizens on the very anniversary of the killing of our citizens castro gave a medal to his killer, a killer who was pardoned by this it administration. of all the bad deals that we have seen, isn't this cuba deal the weakest one yet? and on venezuela mr. secretary, yesterday, just a few days ago a 14-year-old child was killed by police thugs, actually just yesterday, 14 years old. he was shot in the head during a peaceful protest. we in congress passed a sanctions law to punish such acts, but you have not fully implemented our law. states decision to deny some visas to some people is only a small slap on the wrist. people are dying in venezuela and all we're hearing are excuses. enough is enough, why have you not fully implemented every one of the sanctions laws that we passed against human rights violators in venezuela? how many more peaceful demonstrator demo

mr. conroy, you have the mike. >> thank you. good morning. chairman castro, commissioners and fellow panelists. my name is steven conroy, and i'm the vice president of facility operations at cca. in that role, i oversee operational aspects of the majority of our i.c.e. facilities to include adherence to the pbnds in standards as well as other requirements of government partners. i'm a correction professional with over 30 years of experience in both public and private corrections settings. the last nine of which i have worked for cca. i'd like to start by thanking the commission for providing me the opportunity to share with you cca's steadfast commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals entrusted to our care. nothing is more important to our company than the safety and welfare of those entrusted to our care. it is responsible we take very seriously. reflect a thoughtful commitment on a day-to-day and hour to hour basis in our facilities. these efforts are carried out in consultation with our government partners who also provide strong

mr. guzman, who is in the audience today, he served 22 years in castro's prison. and mr. smith, i would like to request unanimous consent to submit into the record a letter from the international committee of former cuban political prisoners based in new jersey documenting a list of the many cubans still languishing in castro's ghoul ag and thank you to mr. guzman for pointing that out. >> without objection. >> thank you so much very much for convening this important hearing for your unyielding and passionate commitment to human rights, to freedom. not just for the oppressed people of cuba but for all people everywhere who suffer under oppressive regimes and who continue to seek the most basic and fundamental rights for many people that they take for granted. everywhere there is an oppressed person a political prison, there you will find mr. smith. so i thank you for that. i also want to welcome our wonderful witnesses. all champions of freedom on the island. and the face of what the democratic future of cuba will look like. look at those faces. that is the cuban now that

mr. chairman. >>> former cuban leader fidel castro breaking his silence at least on paper over normalization talks, writing a letter over the matter, releasing one, at least. the 88-year-old still hasn't been seen in public in more than a year. no date has been set for a second round of talks between the united states and cuba. the president's unilateral efforts to normalize relations driving a surge as well and the illegal immigration of cubans to this country. the federal government reported coast guard interceptions of cubans on boats and rafts has risen 117% from a year ago and interceptions of cubans at the miami airport and along our southern border have risen 65%. >>> we are coming right back with much more. stay with us. >>> the white house relents, releases more than 15,000 benghazi documents. in my world, wall isn't a street. return on investment isn't the only return i'm looking forward to. for some every dollar is earned with sweat, sacrifice, courage. which is why usaa is honored to help our members with everything from investing for retirement to saving for college. our commitment to

mr. duffy and my predecessor, of course the importance of including the castro in the outreach to help the castro for the shambles the folks are not here as well as the other areas we have a population that needs the outreach and i think sometimes because of the very, very significant challenges in other parts of the city we don't get the same level of focus it's not a criticism only a reality i'm happen to support this today so with that, moaning can i have a motion to forward this to the full board reception. >> as a committee report? i'd like to make a motion to move this forward with a positive recommendation >> we'll take that without objection. that will be the order thank you madam clerk call item number 4. >> item 4 an ordinance mit the general plan. >> why not wait - >> sure. >> here i have a whole box. >> thank you. >> okay. once the door closes which i think it is - okay. >> item 4. >> okay madam clerk call item 4. >> admiting the recession and open space element. >> okay. i'm the sponsor of item number 4 this legislation all the times the general plan and sets the city's long t

the resources that are meant for the cuban people raul castro will take to strengthened the oppression apparatus. thank you. >> thank you so much, mr thank you for calling this important hearing. thank you to our witnesses who are victims of the castro regime for being here today. [speaking spanish] i'm humbled to be in your presence. some of you live in cuba, others are here now but have family in cuba so i know that you are very brave for being here today. this is sort of an insurance policy that you have offered of them, mr. smith. because by being here today or have still have some degree of protection that those are the figures, as brave as you are will not have. so i know you worry about them. thank you for holding up their photos. thank you for describing the current dismal human rights situation in my native homeland of cuba. and i wanted to just give this statement and ask you some questions. how has the regime's treatment of its critics changed since december 17? do you think this announcement will force changes? i will ask you to respond in a minute. how does the regime manipulate the press here in the united states and

mr. president, who should answer for those people? >> the cuban revolution inflicted tremendous losses on both families and companies. his family lost everything after castro. that included his home and a rare art collection that belonged to his father. carlos joins me from new hain. thankhaven.thank you for joining us. david was setting the stage for the negotiations to be pursued at the highest level but what about others, you and your family and people with small interests small holdings and houses, where are you all likely to fall in this discussion? >> well, it will be very, very hard to reclaim property that cube ans ancecubans loss. nothing is going to happen to the property taken friday cubans or other foreigners not just cubans. my grandparents on my mother's side were spanish immigrants. they built up a life and suddenly lost it all. as long as the castro regime is in power it's going to be verve hard if not impossible for cubans to get back any of their property. >> you are a professor of history well educated, you know the story, it's personal to you. your father died 14 years after you left, you were not able to attend his funeral. as a studen

mr. chairman, for calling this comprardly important hearings. i say to my distinguished witnesses, and thank you for coming, obama gives the castro regime in cuba an undeserved bailout, pointing out the soviet union and certainly now venezuela less able to prop them up now potentially u.s. funds will do that. secondly, president obama's betrayal of cuban democrats and the fact we should have listened to the ladies in white who will be testifying here tomorrow on a hearing i'm chairing. she along with two others, who are going back -- two of those individuals. talk about bravery. speaking to the senate, now speaking to the house and they're going back. and yet the "post," which is hardly a conservative bastion, talks about a betrayal of cuban democrats. with no consequences in sight, cuba continues to crack down on free speech. i wish you -- an assessment since it's been effect, the negotiations and visibility of them, are there any second thoughts? i say that, 2012 ileana ros-lehtinen and i had a hearing and we heard from a doctor who spent 11 years in prison and the same type of scenarios were pointed out, even the 53 were free three were rear

castro. [applause] >> thank you. thank you so much mr.mr. mrs. obama and cochairs, senator casey and senator wicker. to all of our distinguishes. >> guest: s, an honor to join you on this day of prayer and peace. last week i had the opportunity to travel to los angeles where i met some of our nation's most vulnerable citizens men and women living every day with homelessness. although they have endured incredible difficult circumstances, it was clear to me that they never led their hardship extinguish their hope. i spoke with an older woman who spend her nights on a tattered quilt over cold concrete. night at knife that wears on a person's bod. yet this woman's spirit was unbroken, and her faith a true testament of strength and of brace. -- grace. it was this angel in the city of angels who reminded me the true measure of our progress is how we care for those with the least. the passage that i will read speaks to the hope we must preserve, the need we must meet, and the common humanity that we must always honor. a reading from the book of

mr. chairman. i strongly second your grave concerns about the way that foreign policy is being run from the white house, by secretly negotiateing with the castro regime while keeping the congress the american people even our own diplomats in the dark. this foreign policy decision is in line with the president's other examples of executive overreach and bypassing consultations with congress, just like the taliban 5 trade with berg dal, the president has established a dangerous precedence that the united states does in fact negotiate with terrorists. ever since the secret negotiations began of june 2013 this is what the regime has been doing since day one of the talks as the u.s. establishes diplomatic relations. just a few examples. july 15 2013, a north korean flag cargo ship was caught in panama after it left cuba heading to north korea after exppingses the shipment included components of air missile systems and launchers, shell casings, robert propelled projectiles and the cargo was hidden under 200,000 bag s of sugar. october 6 2013, over 135 democracy activists arrested in one day throughout cuba, also arrested with the leader of -- who wa

only in castro's cuba will they hold it. sarah and then i don't know if mr. theel could speak as well. >> if you allow me i would like to -- i would like to speak about the private sector in cuba. there is no private sector in cuba. where there is no freedom to negotiate, the so-called self-entrepreneurs who are very tiny minority are constantly blackmailed by the regime. they must respond to the interests of the regime in order to keep their businesses running. they can't have their own unions. they can't defend their rights. that's why i insist no type of commerce with cuba benefits the people. whatever enters cuba remains in the hands of the regime. whatever money enters cuba remains in the hand of the regimes. i want to say i feel a deep sadness every time i think of political prisoners. it's very hard in the 21st century that in the 21st century, there are still people in my country who are in prison for their ideas. that there are so many marginalized people who can't finish their studies because of their ideas. but it's not only this. many youth who ar

mr. gross. we returned the cuban agents for an intelligence agent that we wanted. >> let me ask you one last question. for years the castro regime has perceived broadcasting by our office, cuba broadcasting as a threat. last week the cuban government referred to these as illegal and castro has demanded that the broadcast be stopped. to what extent from our blasts been discussed as part of these -- broadcast been discussed as part of these talks? >> the cuban government has raise the both radio and tv both in migration talks and -- they raise them again as part of a list of things that they object to in the normalization talks. but we have no plans to end those, either. >> i know that cuba's demanding that they be shut down. i'm hoping to hear you say that we are demanding that cuba drop its jamming. i'm going to go to mr. engel because my time is up. thank you. >> thank you. secretary jacobson, let me just give you a broad leeway because you have answered some of this. i wanted to hear more. how do you answer the critics who say that we gave away the store? that we've -- we had leverage and we just tossed it away, didn't

castro is demanding the return of guantanamo, a full u.s. list of concessions including limiting our democracy -- while the cuban people still struggle to make ends meet. that's why among many other reasons, mr. chairman, i think this is a bad deal and i ask my statements be included in the record. >> we move to our testimony and i recognize secretary jake con send. your full statement is in the record. we ask you keep your statement to five minutes or so so we can get to the questioning. thank you for being here today. >> thank you mr. chairman and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify today on newt approach to u.s.-cuban policy. i appreciate your engagement on issues related to cuba and western hemisphere and know your struck in itment to values, human rights and expanding economic opportunities in the americas. i want to thank this committee for assistance in welcoming the long overdo return of alan gross to his family. his five long years of detention during that time, the administration worked closely with men members of congress from both chambers and parties to secure his release. as the president and the secretary have said, we're also grateful for the essential rol

mr. gross. we returned the cuban agents for an intelligence agent that we wanted. >> let me ask you one more question. for years the castros perceived broadcasting by our office of cuba broadcasting as a threat. last week the cuban government referred to these as illegal and castro has demanded the broadcast be stopped. to what extent has our broadcast been discussed as part of these talks? >> the cuban government has always raised radio and tv marquee in immigration talks and again as part of a list a list of things that they object to in the normalization talks, but we have no plans to end those either. >> well, i know cuba is demanding they be shut down and i'm hoping to here you say we are demanding that cuba dropped its chanting. i will go to mr. eliot engel because my time is up. >> thank you. sec. jacobson let, let me give you broad leeway because you have answered some, but i want to here more how do you answer critics who say that we gave away the store that we had leverage and just tossed it away did not get concessions in exchange and if we did not doesn't that show you the true intentions of the castro regime?

castro brothers have pushed this as a major diplomatic win. i would have hoped that human rights concessions were -- would come first before being recognized diplomatically. >> we go now to mreg meeks

shore and when the raul castro demands that we return that to the cuban people and pay reparations to the cuban government, as terms of negotiation, my legislation says, no. mr. president, you may not do that without coming to this body to ask for authorization and certainly i would not lend my vote to that. i was pleased to hear testimony in the senate when the administration said, that is not a matter they would consider. but as we have seen, the president's negotiations in the past, it gives us reason to pause. my legislation would simply codify the restriction that says guantanamo navy station may not be returned to the cuban people without congressional approval. . finally, we do have a role in inviting a foreign leader to address this body. prime minister netanyahu. it is fully appropriate as a co-equal branch of this government to invite prime minister netanyahu to address us about his vision of peace in the region, his visit of security and also his vision of the current negotiations with iran. no member of this body should shy away from receiving an address from the prime minister of israel. we should stand resolution, republican independents, an de