"Today's announcement by the President marks a long overdue step towards ending our misguided and ineffective policies towards Cuba. I am pleased that President Obama has heeded the calls of myself and other Members of Congress who wrote him this month urging fundamental changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba. There are still significant human rights violations in Cuba that need to be addressed, but this move will allow us to take proactive steps towards pro-democracy changes, rather than continuing with failed punitive policies. I look forward to the day when we have a normalized economic and political relationship with Cuba."