Chris Murphy

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

This is a region that deserves much more of our attention from both sides of the aisle.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

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

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.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

But you will conduct an evaluation--I am trying to understand.

One of the things that is important in those accountability regulations is the idea that the States identify schools that need support that are constantly underperforming.

I think there is a marriage between innovation and accountability, that people are more willing to support innovation, more willing to support choice, frankly, if they believe that there is real accountability.

I fundamentally do not believe that this administration cares about the outcomes of students at East Hartford High School, because if you did, you would not be proposing these massive cuts in the programs that help the kids of East…

But my question is, what protections will be on taxpayer dollars to make sure that the heads of these companies do not end up becoming millionaires or billionaires off of the operation of these schools?

I just do not think there is any room in our public education for individuals making millions of dollars, making their fortune off of taxpayer dollars.

Education is not mayonnaise. And, frankly, the day that we start treating the education of our children like we do the marketing of a condiment is the day that we have given up on our kids.