The problem is these vacancies, and now we've got on top of that a hiring freeze that's going to make it, I think, doubly difficult to fill them.

We feel the same way.

I'm certain we don't intend to disadvantage whistleblowers, I know we're committed to them, but the effect of their concerted attacks on unions and civil service protections sometimes would be to strip whistleblowers of their advocates in…

being able to have the kind of worker protections that unions provide is most vitally, vitally important.

It's not enough to pass these laws, however, and pay lip service at occasional hearings.

Any suggestions of moral equivalency, that we are somehow on part with dictatorial regimes that kill political opponents, that jail journalists for speaking the truth, and indiscriminately bomb hospitals and slaughter innocent civilians…

It is essential that the leaders of the world's greatest democracy issue statements of support and solidarity and, where appropriate, condemnations when grave human rights abuses occur.

Is not this something that in the end should be looked at as a strength and not a weakness?

American leadership begins at home, right here.

I do not know, is it a lack of self-confidence or something in the democracies of betraying the virtues of the model.

Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act. We are 2 years away from a key anniversary in American history. August 2019 will mark 400 years since the first documented arrival of…

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to speak on the nomination of Representative Mulvaney to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the matter currently pending before us. I will vote against the nomination because of…

Our purpose is to walk with citizens and political leaders as they blaze their own democratic trail.

America should support democracy and liberty overseas not only because it is the right thing to do, but... also because it is in our economic and security interests as well.

We should actually ask the people involved and what it is that they want, their own desires, their own aspirations.

Now and then, you have to negotiate with evil regimes but you do not have to do so without bringing up human rights.

It is incumbent upon us to explore and explain why the support of emerging democracies should be a core U.S. national interest precisely because it is a national security imperative.

We support democracies around the world because history has taught us too well that democracies that also value the rule of law and individual rights are our best partners and our most reliable allies.