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Reaction to Cuba deal sharply split on Capitol Hill Reaction to Cuba deal sharply split on Capitol Hill
(35 minutes later)
This post has been updated.This post has been updated.
Key members of Congress  hailed the release of American contractor Alan Gross from Cuban custody on Wednesday, and several traveled back to the Washington area with him. Key lawmakers criticized the Obama administration for moving to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba, including House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and one Senate Democrat who warned that one arrangement in the broader process sets "an extremely dangerous precedent" that puts thousands of Americans at risk.
But some lawmakers warned the Obama administration against normalizing relations with Cuba, with one Senate Democrat warning that the deal sets "an extremely dangerous precedent" that puts thousands of Americans at risk. Other members of Congress hailed the release of American contractor Alan Gross from Cuban custody on Wednesday and they lauded President Obama's decision to end the longstanding divide with Cuba.
Three lawmakers — Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) — returned to the Washington area Wednesday morning on a flight with Alan Gross, according to congressional aides familiar with the travel. The clash over the landmark foreign policy development could lead to an extended battle that does not fall neatly along party lines.
They were greeted in Washington upon landing by Sens. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), a person familiar with the plans said. Flake tweeted a picture Wednesday morning: “This asymmetrical trade will invite further belligerence toward Cuba's opposition movement and the hardening of the government’s dictatorial hold on its people," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) of the deal to secure Gross, which was part of a broader U.S.-Cuba agreement.
Three lawmakers — Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) — returned to the Washington area Wednesday morning on a flight with Gross, congressional aides familiar with the travel said.
In a statement, Leahy lauded Gross's release and said Obama "wisely charted a new course" on Cuba "that serves our national interests in this hemisphere and the world."
Obama said the United States plans to re-open its embassy in Havana and ease restrictions on travel and commerce with Cuba.
But even as they lauded Gross's release, some other lawmakers did not embrace the process.
House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) issued a statement saying, "Relations with the Castro regime should not be revisited, let alone normalized, until the Cuban people enjoy freedom – and not one second sooner."
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called Obama's announcement "another concession to a tyranny" by his administration.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) took to Twitter after Obama's remarks to say he will "do all in my power to block the use of funds to open an embassy in Cuba. "Normalizing relations with Cuba is bad idea at a bad time."
The delegation of lawmakers traveling with Gross was greeted in Washington upon landing by Sens. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.). Flake tweeted a picture Wednesday morning:
Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2 — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2 — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014
Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2Alan Gross. Back on U.S. soil. pic.twitter.com/Ut5jvdQGg2
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 17, 2014
An aide to Durbin tweeted this photograph:An aide to Durbin tweeted this photograph:
Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH — Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH — Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014
Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH Congressional delegation greets Alan Gross at Andrews. pic.twitter.com/XdJT2xAYOH — Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014
— Ben Marter (@BenMarter) December 17, 2014
Levin said in a statement that seeing Gross walk off that plane with his wife "was a sight I'll never forget. His unjust imprisonment and his family’s nightmare are finally over."Levin said in a statement that seeing Gross walk off that plane with his wife "was a sight I'll never forget. His unjust imprisonment and his family’s nightmare are finally over."
In a statement, Van Hollen thanked his colleagues and the Obama administration for collaborating to secure Gross's release.
“I also want to thank President Obama and his team, including Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, for their dedication to this effort and to their vision of a new day in the relationship between the United States and Cuba," he said.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who put forward a 2012 resolution calling for Gross's release, also praised the move. "Today, news of Alan’s release brings great relief to his loved ones and to every American who has called for his freedom. I admire Alan’s strength and that of his wife Judy, who has worked tirelessly for years to free Alan and reunite her family."Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who put forward a 2012 resolution calling for Gross's release, also praised the move. "Today, news of Alan’s release brings great relief to his loved ones and to every American who has called for his freedom. I admire Alan’s strength and that of his wife Judy, who has worked tirelessly for years to free Alan and reunite her family."
Not all reaction from Capitol Hill was positive, however. Even as they lauded Gross's release, some lawmakers — even in the president's own party — did not embrace the process.
“President Obama's actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government," outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said in a statement. " ... Trading Mr. Gross for three convicted criminals sets an extremely dangerous precedent. It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms.
“This asymmetrical trade will invite further belligerence toward Cuba's opposition movement and the hardening of the government’s dictatorial hold on its people," he added.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said "I rejoice" at the fact that Gross was released. But he added in a statement: “The President’s decision to reward the Castro regime and begin the path toward the normalization of relations with Cuba is inexplicable. Cuba’s record is clear."
"This is an incredibly bad idea," tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in response to a news report indicating that the U.S. and Cuba would normalize relations.
Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, said that he learned recently that the Obama administration and the Vatican have been working together for more than a year to secure Gross's release from Cuba.Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, said that he learned recently that the Obama administration and the Vatican have been working together for more than a year to secure Gross's release from Cuba.
“I’ve spoken to this president many times over the years and I know that it was his goal to change our relationship with Cuba," Durbin said in an interview. "I also knew that the administration was quietly behind the scenes doing a lot to free Alan Gross."“I’ve spoken to this president many times over the years and I know that it was his goal to change our relationship with Cuba," Durbin said in an interview. "I also knew that the administration was quietly behind the scenes doing a lot to free Alan Gross."
The White House also informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and others of the release Tuesday night, but it was not immediately clear whether top Republican leaders had also been informed.The White House also informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and others of the release Tuesday night, but it was not immediately clear whether top Republican leaders had also been informed.
Other lawmakers closely tracking U.S.-Cuba policy said they were given just a 30-minute advance warning that a "major announcement" regarding Cuba policy was imminent.Other lawmakers closely tracking U.S.-Cuba policy said they were given just a 30-minute advance warning that a "major announcement" regarding Cuba policy was imminent.