The situation in Venezuela is no longer simply about the loss of democracy and human rights violations. It is a significant destabilizing influence on the region, undermining our regional allies, particularly in Colombia.

That is a new policy, because it was on there before.

Here in Congress, there is a law called the NICA Act, which, unfortunately, has run into some procedural hurdles, but which, I believe, when voted on, would pass overwhelmingly.

There are solutions and steps that can be taken and that we have called for, that the United States Government has called for that are simple steps of return to democracy, return to a respect for human rights, allow free and fair and…

It is indisputable--right--that the distribution of cocaine is assisted actively by elements in the Venezuelan Government.

Creating the potential that that too would be a risk and a threat to the national security of the United States.

I do believe that it is important that we stay synchronized and aligned with our ally in South Korea...

As everyone knows, the Ranking Member has a deep interest in the western hemisphere, and many years of experience in defending democracy.

I think it is important that we maintain those sanctions until we can come to the point where we believe that Kim Jong-un is serious about the negotiations.

I intend to do all I can to support their efforts to remedy the situation.

It is my belief that, if confirmed, you will be the Ambassador to Colombia at a time in which cocaine is going to begin to compete with heroin and opiates as a headline issue in the United States.

We need to make that work again. The incinerator is used to destroy the precursor chemicals that are used to create some of this.