Dick Lugar

Please get back to us with the plan, because that will be important.

I think that's a big step forward toward the kind of national unity that's wanted.

I do find it similar to what I'm saying about the supplemental. We are asking you to tell us what you're going to do with this money after we pass the bill.

We must take whatever actions are necessary to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Is the proposed policy sufficiently considering the--what I like to call the ``balloon effect'' of ``whatever happens in Afghanistan affects Pakistan,'' or vice versa?

The point that I am hopeful you are able to make at USDA is that American agriculture can rise in productivity to meet whatever challenges there are in an export market.

I really appreciate that. I thank you for the opportunity to introduce Peggy Hamburg whom the President has nominated to lead the Food and Drug Administration.

It is my privilege to recommend a signal leader to address these challenges and opportunities for reform.

For many years, starting with President Bush, now with President Obama, presidents and everyone else have said we have a dependence upon imported oil, which is dangerous in terms of our strategic position in the world.

At a time of heightened awareness about the need for food safety oversight, growing demand to address the cost and assure the quality of prescription drugs and medical devices, and the critical importance of addressing pandemics and…

I believe that energy policy reform, in particular, eliminating our over-dependence on oil, is critical to bolstering our Nation's security, economy, and foreign policy.

I don't understand why any country would be opposed to a solution that addressed the piracy issue.

if we don't sustain the long-term investments necessary to prevent failing states and to reduce the poverty that can spawn instability and extremism, we run the risk of paying a far higher price down the road.

Captain Phillips' leadership, his bravery during and after the pirate assault on his ship have been justifiably praised around the world.

The Law of the Sea--in practice, we are--on these issues, we're already abiding by the Law of the Sea.

I think it's not unreasonable to think that there would be such successful negotiations, because rural shipping is being vilely affected by this.

the IMO, which is a branch of the United Nations, strongly recommends against the arming of crews or providing security forces.

And we're trying to define those, and then for the more diplomatic problems, in terms of international law, of which we need to be cognizant.

The biggest challenge for us is getting other victim states to shoulder their burden of prosecution.

If that was the course the United States wanted to take, we would need to ensure that our allies were in sync with us and the international community was in sync with us.

It's not going to go away. And unfortunately in this region, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, you have failed states, and other states are perhaps on the verge of failing.

If you can feed people in that area of the world, you have an army.

obviously, there are private security firms now offering security in Iraq, for example, and through other phases of foreign policy.

I do not view our Federal courts as the forum for resolving political disputes. That is why I believe our confirmation decisions should not be based on partisan considerations, much less on how we hope or predict a given judicial nominee…

Sending members of the United States military into harm's way is perhaps the most significant decision our Government can make.