WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s announcement of changes in U.S. policy toward Cuba.
“Obama’s announcement today declaring a historic shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba is the embodiment of this White House’s reckless and naïve foreign policy,” Rep. Scalise said. “While I welcome Alan Gross home to his family and country after five years of false imprisonment, I’m disheartened by the Administration’s decision to trade an unjustly imprisoned American aid worker for convicted Cuban spies. This sets a dangerous precedent that emboldens bad actors and threatens the lives of Americans around the globe. Loosening travel and economic restrictions on the Castro regime will only aid and abet the Cuban government in the continuation of its sordid history of repression and abuse. Today’s actions confirm my grave concerns regarding the foreign policy decision-making of this Administration and let down the Cuban people who long for freedom and liberty.”