,,iii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #bf  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! 
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #ac1 #bjae ,mr4
 ,durb9 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4   
,flake1 ,mr4 ,c>d91 ,ms4 ,mikulski1 ,mr4
 ,enzi1 ,ms4 ,coll9s1 ,mr4 ,br[n1 ,mr4  
,udall1 & ,mr4 ,ka9e7 submitt$ ! foll[+ 
resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee
 on ,=eign ,relations  ,,resolution     
,comm5d+ ,pope ,francis = 8 lead]%ip 9  
help+ to secure ! release ( ,alan ,gross
 & = work+ ) ! ,gov]nm5ts ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates & ,cuba to a*ieve a m positive   
relation%ip4  ,:]eas ,ar*bi%op ,jorge   
,m>io ,b]goglio ( ,bu5os ,aires1        
,arg5t9a1 0 elect$ ,supreme ,pontiff ( !
 ,ca?olic ,*ur* on ,m>* #ac1 #bjac2     
,:]eas 8 election m>k$ ! fir/ "t a ,pope
 f ! ,am]icas & a ,jesuit has be5       
select$1 z well z ! fir/ "t a pope took 
! papal "n ( ,francis1 aft] ,/4 ,francis
 ( ,assisi2 ,:]eas ,pope ,francis has   
be5 recogniz$ = 8 humility1 d$ication to
 ! poor1 & commitm5t to dialogue &      
reconciliation2 ,:]eas ,unit$ ,/ates    

citiz5 & =m] ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy =     
,int]national ,developm5t subcontractor 
,alan ,phillip ,gross travel$ to ,cuba  
five times 9 #bjji1 work+ to e/abli%    
wireless networks & improve ,int]net &  
,intranet access & connectivity = !     
,cuban p2 ,:]eas ,mr4 ,gross 0 arre/$ 9 
,havana1 ,cuba1 on ,decemb] #c1 #bjji1  
*>g$ ) actions aga9/ ! indep5d5ce or !  
t]ritorial integrity ( ! /ate 9 ,febru>y
 #bjaa1 & s5t5c$ to #ae ye>s 9 prison2  
,:]eas1 on ,novemb] #ba1 #bjac1 #ff     
,unit$ ,/ates ,s5ators wrote to         
,presid5t ,b>ack ,obama urg+ him to act 
exp$iti\sly to take :atev] /eps are 9 ! 
national int]e/ to obta9 ,alan ,gross's 
release1 & pl$g+ to support !           
,adm9i/ration 9 pursuit ( ?is wor?y     
goal2 ,:]eas dur+ ,mr4 ,gross's five    
ye>s 9 prison1 8 heal? s]i\sly          
det]iorat$ & 8 "m ,evelyn ,gross pass$  
away2 ,:]eas ,mr4 ,gross's family rema9$
 tirelessly committ$ to ensur+ 8        
well-be+ & return to ! ,unit$ ,/ates2   
,:]eas1 ov] ! c\rse ( sev]al ye>s1 !    

,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t us$ a v>iety (  
*annels to enc\rage ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,cuba 
to release ,mr4 ,gross2 ,:]eas1 9 ,m>*  
#bjab1 dur+ 8 visit to ,cuba1 !n-,pope  
,b5$ict rais$ ,mr4 ,gross's det5tion )  
,presid5t ,raul ,ca/ro2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjac1
 ! ,gov]nm5ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,cuba 
began #ah mon?s ( clos$ door talks on   
,mr4 ,gross's det5tion & on improv+ !   
relations betwe5 ! two c\ntries2 ,:]eas1
 9 ,octob] #bjad1 ,pope ,francis play$ a
 key role 9 ! negotiations betwe5 !     
,unit$ ,/ates & ,cuba1 mak+ p]sonal     
appeals to bo? ,presid5t ,obama &       
,presid5t ,raul ,ca/ro1 pu%+ =          
reconciliation betwe5 ! two c\ntries1 & 
ho/+ a diplomatic meet+ at ! ,vatican   
betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,cuba2 ,:]eas1 
on ,decemb] #ag1 #bjad1 ! ,gov]nm5t (   
,cuba releas$ ,alan ,gross on           
humanit>ian gr\nds & all[$ him to return
 to ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas1 on ,decemb]
 #ag1 #bjad1 ,presid5t ,obama also      
ann\nc$ ! ree/abli%m5t ( diplomatic ties
 ) ,cuba2 ,:]eas1 9 ?is ann\ncem5t1     

,presid5t ,obama ?ank$ ,pope ,francis = 
8 involvem5t & ! example he provides to 
! int]national community2 & ,:]eas1 on  
,decemb] #ah1 #bjad1 ,pope ,francis     
said1 ,! "w ( an ambassador lies 9 small
 /eps1 small ?+s1 b !y always end up    
mak+ peace1 br++ clos] ! he>ts ( p1 s[+ 
bro!rhood among p43 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t
 ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 ext5ds its gratitude to
 ,pope ,francis = 8 extraord9>y ef=ts 9 
help+ to secure ! release ( ,alan       
,gross2  7#b7 comm5ds ,8 ,hol9ess = 8   
role 9 enc\rag+ an improv$ relation%ip  
betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,cuba2 &  7#c7 
w>mly welcomes ! return to ! ,unit$     
,/ates ( ,alan ,gross4