Karen Bass

The purpose of our sanctions, you know, again, is to get these governments to properly observe human rights and that would be in the case of both Iran and Sudan.

I'm not sure that it's such a bad thing that other people are trying to represent our country.

I want to know, given that we have been considering changing our policy toward Sudan if that is a leverage point, number one, to save her life, but where we are with sanctions toward Iran.

I think we certainly have a lot of leverage right now and we need to figure out how to step that up as well.

Do you think it is helpful to do a resolution, a sense of Congress, or some kind of statement especially following on the heels of the resolution that we did?

I wanted to ask you also about Eritrea.

With the transition to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, it is an opportune time to take a closer look at our bilateral relationship and what opportunities exist to strengthen the bond between our two nations.

We want to move the country forward, and we will have to figure out the truth and reconciliation process along the way.

Thank you, Chairman Smith. Thank you, one, for leading the codel and having us go down--even though it was a short trip, I think we were able to accomplish a lot--and especially for holding this hearing today.

That was not good, I take it.

I think it would definitely have its purposes, and as I mentioned, it definitely would be noticed by not only the Ethiopian Government but the larger Ethiopian community worldwide.

This issue has eviscerated individuals, families, and entire communities here at home.

And I want to know if, in the budget of USAID, the State Department, somewhere--it seems as though if we take the children away, then our government should be responsible for reuniting those families.

This is going to go down in our history as a real moment of shame.

I want to know what responsibility we are taking for our contribution to the problem in El Salvador.

I am concerned that many of these children will never be reunited with their parents again.

Are we exporting also some of our best practices in how to reduce gang violence?

Mothers and fathers who sought a safe haven for their children watched helplessly as their children were being snatched away from them by our government. These families were fleeing unimaginable violence. They had no idea where their…

My bill also requires a report outlining the short- and long-term effects on these families and proposed solutions. As it is, our foster care system is already overrun with over 400,000 children. We know that these kids are in detention…

If that is what happens to children who should be removed from home, we must call for an end to State-sponsored child abuse, because that is what this policy is. This is our Federal Government that is abusing children. That is why I urge…

President Kabila has deliberately stalled planned elections, despite completing his constitutionally-mandated two terms.

I really wish that the government would see that a heavy-handed crackdown on civil liberties, especially in regard to the freedom of assembly and speech, only serve to exacerbate tensions and escalate conflict.

So, we give Cameroon security assistance?

there is actually no evidence that violent crime increased as a result of Proposition 47.

I would just take issue with what I believed I saw was a relationship between doing criminal justice reform and a rise in crime.