I strongly urge Congress to support the Opportunity Scholarship Program as a part of the three-sector initiative and described in the SOAR legislation proposed by Senator Lieberman.

The United States is now in a stronger position to argue convincingly for a more tough-minded international approach to the Iran nuclear issue.

U.S. policy, in short, should be to increase pressure on the Iranian government at a time when it finds itself an international pariah.

There will be a powerful motivation in some of the larger Arab countries to develop their own nuclear capability.

What happens when they achieve that capability? Well, of course, for Israel... it represents an existential threat.

If no serious response is forthcoming by then, the United States and the other countries would have every right to turn to draconian economic and financial sanctions.

The President's offer of engagement has also put the regime on the defensive.

The anxiety level about Iran and the Iranian nuclear weapons program is as high and intense at the leadership of the Arab countries as it is in Israel.

If this regime were to acquire nuclear weapons, it could spark a dangerous arms race in the Middle East.

I think the problem with isolating them now and not talking to the government at all is that it probably weakens our ability to be effective in opposing them.

Russia and China are partners with the United States in the international effort to convince Iran to join negotiations over its nuclear weapons future.

Only through what Secretary Clinton described earlier this year as crippling sanctions do we have a chance to convince the Iranians to stop this nuclear weapons program.

It was an honor for me to work with you on the amendment that passed in the Department of Defense authorization bill last week, and on S. 908, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to appear before you and your distinguished Committee this morning.

We will not be well served if we allow the debate in our own country to be reduced to 'negotiation or war' with Iran.

I believe the United States should consider instead a series of security and economic measures to contain Iranian power in the Middle East.

I think it is very important that diplomacy and the threat of force be combined here so that we bring the national power of the United States to greatest effect.

I think it is important that the President maintain his flexibility to conduct foreign policy because this is a shifting situation.

I believe a comprehensive application of economic sanctions on Iran is necessary and could be effective.

The obstacle to the peaceful resolution of Iran's nuclear program is not in Washington, but in Tehran.

I continue to believe that President Obama was correct to not inject the United States into the middle of the Iranian domestic crisis right after the elections.

This bill will basically say to companies worldwide... you have got a choice to make.

It is very good to see the spirit of bipartisanship at the outset.

I firmly believe, however, that using economic pressure is far superior to the extreme alternatives of standing idly by.

This is a fanatical regime that is also an expansionist regime, and it has chosen to work through proxies, terrorist proxies.