If we retreat from it instead of working from within it to improve it, we will cede leadership to those whose goals and interests run counter to our own.

Your advocacy for a human rights agenda seems to be at odds with some other members of the administration who don't seem to place the same value on human rights...

I would implore you at every opportunity you might have to see anyone from the Iranian delegation... please press for his return to his family.

There are people with mental illness who, for lack of a better term, are warehoused in our jails across America because we do not have the facilities necessary to take care of them.

We will not stand idle as our families are devastated, our communities are hollowed out, and our Nation's future is diminished.

The Brotherhood, I think, represents the foundation and if we can deal with that then I think we are dealing with the problem of radical Islamic terrorists much more holistically and likely to be more effective.

I've been trying for a few years here--I did finally get resilient construction defined, so now we have it defined, and yet I could see the real potential with composite materials and construction areas.

I would like to focus in on one thing, and that is a couple years ago there was sort of the storm of the century in the Northeast, and there was about $50 billion it cost the federal government to pay for the damages that were done there.

So you think the American taxpayer has a right to expect changes at the U.N.

What is your understanding about the role that your predecessor played in facilitating that?

I think that we, you know, hit the terrorists, kind of Whac-A-Mole, which is good--you got to take them out.

I happen to be talking about Takata, which I think was morally bankrupt because they allowed this to happen.

Florida acts as a central hub for trade with Latin America.

I'm absolutely concerned about it. If confirmed, we will look at that.

I want to know if you will be concerned about this inequity that is devastating the fresh fruit and vegetable market.

For some time, Florida fruit and vegetable growers have had to deal with an onslaught of subsidized agricultural imports from Mexico.

You're still not going to be an advocate for Takata.

There has to be some moral underpinning about what is right and wrong and the willingness to speak out.