Few, if any, of the response plans, particularly for deep water drilling, were effective in addressing the issues.

The Department was not satisfied with the response plans and would not issue permits until it became satisfied.

Americans end up paying for programs that do not align with our national security and foreign policy objectives.

U.N. peacekeeping missions must have more accountability--much more.

I appreciate Senators Menendez and Kerry's efforts to allow me to be briefed on the background summary.

I feel very good about your nomination.

The United States should examine these cuts and take similar actions.

I believe American taxpayers deserve more accountability for their dollars.

The White House continually denied reasonable requests from Senators on this side of the aisle for access to information.

Last year, every Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted against moving this nomination forward.

The people who fomented change in Egypt, in Libya and Yemen, throughout many parts of the world back during the fall of the Soviet Union, did not do so to live under another dictatorship.

I will vote no on Ms. Aponte's confirmation and strongly recommend my colleagues do the same.

Are you willing to cut funding for these missions where women and children have been abused?

I don't think there's much, if any, disagreement in this room that not only will the administration demand results from the U.N. and from the administration itself, but this committee will demand results.

We respectfully request that Ms. Aponte be removed from post as soon as possible, so that El Salvador may enjoy the benefits of having a better person as a government representative of your noble country.

clarity of purpose is very important for us.

So I think the United States is at its best when we live our values and live our interests, try to influence others to meet our national security priorities, but not do so in a way that tries to impose upon other people what we believe.

the United States needs to deal very firmly, with strength and a lot of verification with other countries in the world.