ms. jacobs and the opportunity secretary jacobsen to answer that questions.how can marlena alejandra explained to their daughters whether grandfather who was killed by the castro regime and his life meant nothing and the person who is in jail as a co-conspirator of the murder of her father was pardoned, set free and returned to cuba and received a hero's welcome. what does she say to her girls? >> let me start out by saying that i can never bring back her grandfather and i can never do more than express my sadness and my condolences to her. it's something that should not have happened. >> when she was told by you and others of the trade would not take place this is a swap is it not? >> madam chair i just want to say an exchange of intelligence agents between two countries is something that this government and previous administrations have done many times. >> but at the state department not met with the family and didn't the state department time and time and time again tell her that her although hernandez would not be set free by this administration yes or no

ms. jacobsen the opportunity secretary jacobsen to answer that questions.how can marlena alejandra explain to their daughters how their grandfather who was , killed by the castro regime , and his life meant nothing and the person who is in jail as a co-conspirator of the murder of her father was pardoned, set free, and returned to cuba and received a hero's welcome. what does she say to her girls? >> let me start out by saying that i can never bring back her grandfather and i can never do more than express my sadness and my condolences to her. it's something that should not have happened. >> when she was told by you and others of the trade would not take place, this is a swap is it not? >> madam chair, i just want to say an exchange of intelligence agents between two countries is something that this government and previous administrations have done many times. >> but had the state department not met with the family and didn't the state department time and time and time again tell her that heraldo hernandez would not be set free by this administration yes or

ms. jacobsen i believe in politics and diplomacy and a very simple adage don't give it away for nothing. i'm very troubled by the abrupt change is precisely a moment where we actually have leverage. for 50 years one could argue the castro brothers have loved policy because it's helped keep them in power fair enough but that was then and this is now think a change. they're hurting. the economy is hurting. their oil supplier is hurting and if they look out to the future it's very difficult to see a viable cuban economy without major change including a change in their relationship with us. now i take your point about diplomatic exchange and i put that aside. but the liberalization of trade and tourism and indeed the person's call to begin the process of dismantling the embargo that has been in place for half a century i need to understand what we got in return. where's the reciprocity? why wouldn't the united states good -- use its leverage with respect human rights and press freedoms and with respect to religious freedoms with respect to political dissidents? i am reading from state depart

ms. jacobsen, americans paid in blood for cuban independence.base in base in guantÁnamo that is valuable to our national security. are are you prepared -- and hopefully this is a yes or no question -- to say right now this administration will not abandon, return or fail to pay the modest fee so that we can have that naval base for the next two years? >> i do not see that discussion taking place. >> that is not what i am asking for. that was in your testimony. see it from our side. we were shocked. you are telling me that you are not thinking of something which means i have to be ready to be shocked tomorrow. the administration was so angry that they had not been consulted on bringing one guy to speak hear not allow the consultation. would would the administration objects to language in appropriations bills designed to make it impossible for this administration to give back the naval base? >> that issue is not on the table. >> word the -- it could be on our table. table. would you object? >> i don't know the answer to that as a matter of -- >> we

ms. jacobsen, if you would please summarize your remarks in five minutes. then we'll hear from the other two witnesses. >> thank you very much, chairman, ranking member, members of the committee command thank you for the opportunity to testify on knew approach to u.s. cuba policy. i appreciate this committee's engagement in the western hemisphere and know all of your strong commitment, the democratic values, social and human rights and diplomatic community in the americas and cuba and thank you and support for the long overdue return for alan gross and his family. during his detention the administration has worked closely with many members of congress in both parties to secure his release. we are grateful for the essential role of canada, pope francis, and the vatican in reaching an agreement that made mr. gross is freedom possible. on december 17 the president announced a knew policy toward cuba, one that will better enable us to effectively advance our values and help the cuban people move into the 21st century. our previous approach to relations with cub