I share your assessment of the critical importance of ASEAN and the need for the United States to enhance and elevate its relations with the region.

American leadership on human rights is essential to making the world safer, more just, and more humane.

We will address human trafficking, both labor and sex trafficking, through strong legislation and enforcement.

The pursuit of tough, principled, direct diplomacy has been and must again be a hallmark of effective U.S. foreign policy.

America's national security interests require a vigorous and well-funded State Department. I am concerned that the Department's funding is insufficient to the task.

If confirmed as Secretary of State, I look forward to working with this committee and your colleagues in the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs to achieve these priorities.

We look forward to ensuring that continued United States-Brazil energy cooperation is environmentally sustainable and spreads the benefits of alternative fuels.

We will work in partnership with countries throughout the region to promote an agenda that helps advance democratic governance, opportunity, and security from the bottom up.

The vacuum created by the lack of sustained U.S. engagement with the region has been filled, in part, by others--including Hugo Chavez, who has tried to use this opportunity to advance outmoded and anti-American ideologies.

We have been very clear and forceful in our condemnation of the genocide in Sudan.

We are not at war with Islam, that we will stand with those who are willing to stand up for their future.