John Kerry

Reserving the right to object, I think the way we operate is that we need to have a time agreement, and we also have to have an agreement that at the conclusion of the Senator's remarks, we will go back into a quorum call.

I know the Senator from New Hampshire wanted to turn to the Senator from Alaska?

We were there to learn and help Libyans deliver on the promise of their revolution.

We must ensure we strike the right balance between security and engagement.

We need to invest in America's long-term interests in order to do the job of diplomacy in a dangerous world.

I assure you it is not her choice that she is not here today.

We owe it to them, to our responsibility, and to the memory of Chris Stevens and those others who have lost their lives to make good on that request.

I want to thank everybody for joining us this morning.

All of you who know Hillary know that she would rather be here today.

Our diplomats are on the front lines of the world's most dangerous places.

Well, I have great respect for both Rick and his wife, Karen, and their daughter and their family. He's a strong family man. But he either simply hasn't read the treaty or doesn't understand it or he was just not factual in what he said…

Well, I have great respect for both Rick and his wife, Karen, and their daughter and their family. He's a strong family man. But he either simply hasn't read the treaty or doesn't understand it or he was just not factual in what he said…

I would say to the Senator, for a number of reasons: That allows the United States to sit at the table and actually advocate on behalf of our veterans, disabled veterans, who travel abroad.

I ask the Senator further, I know he is a good student of law, practitioner of law. I believe he understands that a treaty does not become customary international law just because the United States or another country ratifies it. The…

Can the Senator show where it is specifically when the Supreme Court has held this is not self-executing, there is no access to American courts; when it is clear by the statements of the treaty itself there is no law of the United States…

Without the advice and consent of the Senate, no change could possibly impact the United States.

The Senator has raised the specter of somehow there would be a change in this treaty at some point that might affect America. Is the Senator not aware that any change to a treaty, in order to go into effect and have any impact on the…

I would inform the Senator from Oklahoma that we have agreed to simply proceed, hopefully alternating from side to side. We have about 48 minutes on each side, and I have yielded 10 minutes to the Senator from Indiana.

That is fine. I accept that. What I am trying to do is to use this debate period, important as it is, as effectively as possible on both sides. I see there is a Member from the other side who is in opposition, so I withdraw my request, and…

He either simply hasn't read the treaty or doesn't understand it or he was just not factual in what he said, because the United States has absolutely zero, zero -- I mean zero -- ability, to order or to tell or to -- I mean, they can…

This is one of the saddest days I've seen in almost 28 years in the Senate. It needs to be a wake-up call about a broken institution that's letting down the American people. We need to fix this place.

I thank the Senator from Indiana, not just for his comments now but for his many years of leadership on these issues and for his wonderful partnership in all of this. I will have more to say about that as the days go on, but we are going…

Yes, I object. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. Who yields time? The Senator from Kentucky.

Not on my time, no. I will do it on the Senator's time. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Who yields time? Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry: Whose time is being---- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. If no one yields time…

I don't know how much time we have. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Nine minutes.