I want to congratulate each of you on your nominations and welcome you and your families and friends as we discuss the challenges and opportunities that you face should you be confirmed.

Should Luxembourg contribute more to NATO?

I will strongly support his nomination, and I hope the full Senate will quickly confirm him and send him to Moscow.

the President has been throughout this administration, both to engage with Iran to work out a new relationship, but at the same time to make clear that we expect Iran to come into full compliance with its obligations.

Another report today suggests that we are moving toward a drawdown of our troops in Iraq, possibly down to as few as 3,000 to 4,000.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ambassador Sherman, I want to echo my colleagues in expressing my appreciation for your past work within the State Department and for your willingness to consider taking on such a difficult post at such a dangerous…

We hope that your nominations will go forward and be quickly confirmed by the full Senate.

Mara has remained a good friend to my office, and her valued counsel over the years has been insightful, prudent, and sound.

I am pleased today to speak in strong support of Mara Rudman's nomination as the next Assistant Administrator for the Middle East at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

In today's complex international environment, it is critical for USAID and the State Department to recruit and retain America's best and brightest if we are to overcome the difficult security challenges of the 21st century.

We really strongly support the efforts of our partner in the eurozone.

I am hopeful that we will get it to the floor and that we'll see positive action in the near future.

In your opening statement you mentioned the work that is done with various country diasporas that exist in America.

Thank you. That sounds encouraging.

The best way we can help now and in the future is by supporting the Syrian people's right to freedom and dignity.

We know sometimes they're not well received, but we still feel that it is important to be communicating these.

The people of Syria have shown that they are no longer afraid and will not be cowed by the regime's brutality.

These acts of violence against the people of Syria are unacceptable. The Syrian regime no longer has legitimacy because of those acts of violence.