[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16062-16063]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCARCERATION OF ALAN P. GROSS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 30, 2012

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, Sunday marks the third anniversary of 
the incarceration of Alan P. Gross. Each day that he sits in a Cuban 
jail is further evidence that the Cuban government has total disregard 
for his human rights.

[[Page 16063]]

  Three years ago Alan Gross was imprisoned for sharing communications 
equipment with Cuba's Jewish community. During and after his trial, the 
Cuban government ignored concerns that have been repeatedly raised 
about his health. Since his incarceration began, he has lost 110 
pounds. The Cuban government has also refused to allow an independent 
physician to examine a growth that has developed on his shoulder. A 
campaign has begun in the United Nations to hold Cuba accountable for 
willfully disregarding his declining health.
  I call on the Cuban government to recognize Alan Gross's human rights 
and provide him immediate access to an independent physician so that 
any questions about his health can be answered.
  As the three year anniversary of the imprisonment of Alan Gross 
approaches, my sympathies and prayers are with his friends and family. 
I join them, my colleagues and the rest of the international community 
in calling for Alan's immediate release. We will not rest until justice 
is done and Alan Gross is free.

                          ____________________