Chris Coons

That is something that has been very hotly contested here in Congress just in the past year.

I am grateful for your sustained engagement in this.

The one challenge here is sustaining support for America's use of diplomatic and developmental resources around the world.

I would like to thank Special Envoy Lyman and Assistant Administrator Lindborg for your testimony and for your very hard work in this area.

Later today, Senator Isakson and I, as the chair and ranking minority on the Africa Subcommittee, will be joined by Senators Durbin and Wicker in introducing a resolution for consideration by the Senate.

We cannot allow under our watch another Darfur humanitarian crisis to emerge in this same region of the world.

You have really brought a new level of energy and leadership and focus.

We are not going to fund every idea, but we do want to engage the power of American innovation and the power of American research institutions and universities to really change what is possible in development.

I think we are seeing comparable advances potentially in Africa in farming.

I would like to join Senator Cardin and Senator Lugar in opening by expressing my regret at the passing of Congressman Donald Payne.

What can we do to encourage and sustain good governance in Africa?

I applaud you and the administration for leading a strong foreign policy that is based not just on defense, but also diplomacy and development.

I think it is critical that the United States continue to demonstrate support for democratically elected leaders in Africa as well as in other places in the world, to encourage the rule of law and good governance.

The vacancy rate in our Federal judiciary currently stands near 10 percent, a very high rate in the third year of any modern President's administration.

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You've got our enthusiasm and--I speak for myself--support as you move forward.

In my view, the Kenyan judiciary--and some of the recent reforms there have been a bright spot--there needs to be more and greater progress toward security-sector reform and police accountability.

Thank you, Senator Lugar, for your leadership and service, and for those insightful questions that reflect your personal engagement with both countries over a very long period of time.

I believe, though, that we do need to make it clear that our policies are flexible.

One of the things that I think would be especially important would be an express commitment from the Government of Zimbabwe to welcome international as well as national election monitoring groups.

But at the end of the day, given the importance of helping these countries move forward, and given the importance of having American business, and help these countries, and invest in them, that the Embassy--other parts of the Embassy and…

I believe that the individual sanctions that we have placed on about 120 individuals and about 70 entities have had an effect.

I do not think, though, that the evidence supports the thesis that American sanctions have hurt Zimbabwe's economy.

I think we have a lot of tools available to help Ghana improve what--even the dramatic improvements that they have made in trade and investment and in developing their economy over the past several years.

I think there is a great deal of opportunity to expand that.