Washington (December 17, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today after the freeing of Alan Gross and President Obama’s announcement of a new Cuba policy. 

“It is heart-warming news that Alan Gross is back on American soil and has been reunited with his family after five years of incarceration and separation. I applaud the President’s efforts to bring Mr. Gross home and for his commitment to supporting a brighter, more open future for the people of the United States and Cuba. The time to normalize relations with Cuba is long past. We must now work together to build economic and diplomatic bridges with Cuba and end decades of a failed policy that has only isolated the Cuban people and prevented both Cuban and American opportunities. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Obama administration to make swift progress on the measures announced today and welcome a new era in American and Cuban history.”