The challenge of covert and overt Russian influence that undermines support for Western institutions.

The persistent scourge of corruption that is holding back economic progress and destabilizing governments.

You can only read it as intentional. So here is the governance funding cuts.

There is great concern in the region about the massive withdrawal of the United States from the Balkans.

I completely buy into the idea that a big piece of the story line here is a withdrawal of American leadership.

the United States should step up our engagement in the region

Part of the solution here can be the United States providing real support for the continuity of the European experiment.

Every single leader from the region that comes to talk to us--this is what they want to talk about.

They are worried that we are sending a signal with these budget cuts with our lack of support for NATO.

while my friend's remarks on the motives of Democrats are fresh in people's minds, let me address this directly. There is a new President today, but there is a different policy, and that is what this resolution is about. Let me be very…

I think it's worthwhile to engage in direct negotiation. I don't think there's any way around it if you ultimately want to bring political resolution to that place.

I guess part of the struggle is figuring out who earns a seat at the table and who doesn't.

To many of us and to many people who follow U.S. foreign policy, the withdrawal of American leadership from the world in the first several months of the Trump administration looks deliberate.

I think there is a worry that while there is clearly a military strategy to assist the Saudis in their bombing campaign inside Yemen, that there is not a political component to the strategy.

Would you agree that there is no legal authorization granted to the administration by Congress to wage war against the Assad regime or against Iranian proxies?

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I come to the floor very briefly to make what, I hope, is a reasonable recommendation to my colleagues on both sides. We are due to vote later today on moving forward on a piece of legislation that I support. Last week, we voted out of the…

It is virtually impossible for any Republican or Democrat to get their heads wrapped around a future Syria with Bashar al-Assad or people close to him, who butchered his own people, continuing to have the reins of power there.

As you know, people have very strong feelings about the future of the Copyright Office.

I think Dr. Hayden was right in her response to that question that with 5 or 6 years of flat budgets--as she pointed out and I would certainly agree--that a flat budget is a cut.

I wonder if maybe you would talk about how the modernization effort that you are undergoing would affect the Copyright portion of the Library of Congress.

Just make the case for why we should be allocating funding for historic preservation side by side with the absolutely critical funding that we provide for life and health safety.

Senator Murphy and I are going to work together to make sure there are no Government shutdowns any more.

I am a believer that there is importance and impact in the history of this building and that that has to be part and parcel of what we help to fund.

It is a pleasure to be here, my first hearing as ranking member.