Earlier this year, Senator Gardner and I introduced the Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative Act of 2016.

Obviously, there is a lot of discussion that we have to have in light of the tribunal decision yesterday, this very strong decision that goes to the very heart of a rules-based system and a rules-based order of international law.

I rise to speak about American leadership in the Asia-Pacific region, an area that will be more and more critical to our economy and national security for generations to come. Earlier today, an international tribunal issued an important…

He has essentially dismantled collective leadership in China. He makes all the decisions.

I think the general point to recognize here is that, in diplomacy, there are areas that cannot be immediately resolved.

What China is basically challenging is that world order.

Now what we have seen in China of late are some tendencies to want to go back to really a 19th century spheres of influence approach.

What the United States and other countries have done has created an operating system in Asia, right?

I believe that the issue on which we can clearly draw a bottom line would be at Scarborough Shoal, where we should make it clear that the U.S. will support the Philippines to oppose Chinese aggression, if necessary, by military force.

I think we have to watch China's reaction. If not, then we can take some stiffer actions ourselves.

I think, in a way, Xi tried to use these to basically assist in the nationalist drive in his own domestic efforts.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would also add, echoing Senator Cardin, that the decision makes it very clear that the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea is very much in the American interests, and I hope that this committee can move it forward again.

The ruling also underscores the need for the Senate to take action to ratify the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.

We must continue to be clear and consistent in our policy to oppose unilateral actions by any claimant seeking to change the status quo through the use of coercion, intimidation, or military force.

I think if you look at Chinese actions over the last 6 or 7 months, they, in fact, have been tapering off from the aggressive activities of last year or 2.

I believe the ruling is a good precedent for other South China Sea claimants to seek resolution of maritime disputes through peaceful means.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you to the witnesses for being here today.

it just seems like that opt-out never happens, the regulations pile on, and then you end up with higher costs and less service in many areas.

I want to ensure my constituents that--I want to ensure their private information is protected.

anybody who has been watching the news knows what has happened with the FBI investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I think that the FBI's press conference detailing the findings of the FBI's investigation has made it…

So if we're in the State of Colorado, for example, all the data and what the State committee felt was important, and public safety, what they felt important, was submitted to the vendors.

Obviously, the potential to revolutionize public safety communications is extremely important.

And I think one of the concerns that we have, of course, in Colorado is the geography and the limitations that geography can pose to coverage and the challenges it can pose to that coverage.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 487, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A…