U.S. House Members Visit American Alan Gross In Cuban Jail

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, center, speaks to Congressman Sam Farr, left, Congresswoman, Barbara Lee, second from right, and Congressman Gregory Meeks outside the Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 5, 2014. The congressmen had previously spoken at a press conference about imprisoned U.S. government subcontractor Alan Gross. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

HAVANA (AP) – Four U.S. House members have met with an American government subcontractor who is serving a 15-year prison sentence in Cuba.

The delegation includes U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, Sam Farr and Barbara Lee of California and Gregory Meeks of New York.

Cleaver says they are hoping to start negotiations on securing the release of Alan Gross, a Maryland native.

Lee says it is time for both countries to "make a serious commitment" to serious negotiations.

The delegation also met Monday with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez.

Gross was arrested in 2009 after he was caught setting up hard-to-detect Internet networks for Cuba's small Jewish community on a U.S. government contract. Havana considers such programs to be an affront to its sovereignty.

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