{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-policy-changes-to-open-relations-with-cuba", "Wyden Statement on Policy Changes to Open Relations with Cuba", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 17, 2014\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today, praising President Obama\u2019s announcement of new steps to open up relations with the Cuban people:\r\n\u201cI applaud the President for today\u2019s announcement and for taking these historic steps to normalize relations with Cuba.\u00a0I have long believed that trade and engagement are liberalizing forces and I look forward to working with my colleagues and with our diplomats to bring about the progress in Cuba that we all want to see. I am also pleased to hear that imprisoned American citizen Alan Gross has been allowed to return to the United States, and that the U.S. and Cuba have separately agreed to an exchange of captured intelligence agents.\u00a0\r\nFor more than a half-century, the United States has sought to isolate Cuba diplomatically and economically and bring down the Castro regime.\u00a0 By any metric, that policy has failed. At some point, policy makers must put aside personal ideology, look at the historical record, and reassess.\u00a0 In my judgment, that point is now.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nThere are some who will say that these steps do nothing but prop up a regime that cracks down on critics.\u00a0 And I want to be clear that I continue to have grave concerns about the repression of pro-democracy advocates in Cuba.\u00a0 One need look no further than the State Department\u2019s most recent Human Rights Report to read about the Cuban government\u2019s arbitrary arrests, selective prosecution, and use of violence, intimidation and detention \u201cto prevent free expression and peaceful assembly.\u201d\u00a0 When I visited Cuba nine years ago I saw the effects of this repression firsthand.\u00a0\r\nBut I also reject the cynical argument that America can only bring about positive change in Cuba by continued unilateral attempts to ostracize the country.\u00a0 And I reject the idea that I must choose between normalizing relations with Cuba on the one hand and continuing my support for freedom of thought, conscience, and expression on the other.\u00a0 I think history has shown that to be a false choice.\u00a0My hope is normalizing diplomatic ties will put more focus on improving human rights in Cuba and better protecting the environment in the Gulf of Mexico.\r\nIn light of today\u2019s developments, I am requesting that the International Trade Commission initiate a study of the economic impact on the United States of current U.S. restrictions on exports of goods and services as well as travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens.\u00a0 This study will provide a foundation for reevaluating the current U.S. economic relationship with Cuba.\u00a0\r\nAt a time when so many Americans are just getting by, we also cannot ignore the trade opportunities currently denied to American farmers, manufacturers, and service providers.\u00a0 U.S. trade restrictions must be appropriately calibrated to ensure that we do not unnecessarily leave American jobs on the table.\u00a0I look forward to working with the President to open up trade with the Cuban people.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-policy-changes-to-open-relations-with-cuba"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4633908867835999, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}