What led the regime to choose not to take that path and use brutality we cannot answer for sure.

We owe it to the Belarusian people to continue supporting them in this critical pursuit.

They are going to remain peaceful and work through political means that they can inside and outside the system.

we will continue on this committee and in the Senate to watch very closely what happens and to do everything we can to try and address the repression that you are experiencing.

Bringing someone like Natalia to testify before the U.S. Senate is a wonderful thing to do.

What a shame for a European leader to make such a statement.

I think the Senate recognizes the ability to use sports in a way that makes a statement.

Do we expect them to do that?

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

this subcommittee stands firmly behind Secretary Clinton and calls on the Lukashenko regime to release all political prisoners immediately and without preconditions.

We would like to believe that past sanctions actually led them to think about and ultimately release political prisoners.

The pursuit of democracy, freedom, and improved human rights in Belarus is in the interests of not only the Belarusian people but of the government itself.

I found it stunning at the first hearing this committee did after the spill happened where we had representatives from BP, Halliburton and Transocean. When I asked the question how much money are you spending on oil spill research, deep…

Mr. Chairman, the last thing I wanted to do is just ask. I have a number of letters that have been sent to my office in support of NORA. If we could include those in the record, I would appreciate it.

Recognizing the nature of the industry and the challenges of tracking that data, I think that would be very helpful as we are looking at the benefits that NORA and PERC, for that matter, can provide to have as much data available as…

I intend to vote for him.

There are people throughout our Government who make the Government work.

Certainly Jack Lew falls in that category.