The Week in Review

U.S.-Cuban relations took a step closer on Friday when the U.S. State Department removed the country from its state-sponsored terrorist list. “I applaud President Barack Obama moving aggressively to develop normal diplomatic relations with Cuba and I look forward to our countries building a strong friendship,” wrote Sanders in a statement. Sanders was featured in an ABC News report Thursday on his efforts to combat rising generic drug prices. “Our job as a Congress is to say to these drug companies you can’t force folks to be in a situation where they can’t purchase the medicine they desperately need,” said Sanders in the report. This Sunday Sanders will appear on NBC’s Meet the Press to discuss the NSA’s spring programs, the disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and other topics. Check local listings.

Cuba Removed from State Dept. Terrorist List

After the U.S. State Department removed Cuba from its state-sponsored terrorist list, Sen. Sanders issued a statement saying, “I am glad to hear that the State Department has removed Cuba from their list of state-sponsored terrorists. This is a major step forward in rebuilding our relationship with Cuba,” wrote Sanders. “I applaud President Barack Obama moving aggressively to develop normal diplomatic relations with Cuba and I look forward to our countries building a strong friendship.”

Sanders Fights Rising Drug Prices

Rapidly-rising prices for generic drugs were exposed in an ABC News report Thursday on “Nightline.” “We have got to tell the drug companies they can’t get away with murder, that they can’t raise their prices to any level that they want,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said. “Our job as a Congress is to say to these drug companies you can’t force folks to be in a situation where they can’t purchase the medicine they desperately need.” Read more here. Watch the ABC report here.

Sanders Opposes Arctic Drilling

Following the recent ecologically devastating oil spill in California coastal waters, Sen. Sanders this week voiced their deep disappointment in the administration’s decision to allow oil drilling in up to six offshore wells in the Arctic Ocean, an area the senators have long sought to protect. Sanders was joined by 17 other senators in a letter warning U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell had "not fully accounted for the likelihood of oil spills and the resulting cultural and environmental impacts from fossil fuel development in the Arctic region." Read more here.