Washington, D.C. (WOWO): U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon, regarding President Obama’s announcement to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba.

“I am very happy to see Alan Gross return home to the United States and to his family after 5 years of suffering in a Cuban prison. For far too long the Castro brothers have brutalized the Cuban people, stifled dissent by jailing political opponents, shown an open disdain for human rights, and sponsored terrorism. If the United States is ever going to consider the Cuban government a true economic and diplomatic partner they need to show significant steps toward freeing its people by opening their political system, transitioning towards democracy, expanding human rights, and reject working with our enemies.”