Ben Cardin actually said...

"Thanks to Senator Cardin and Senator Menendez, the administration has made some assurances that it will not go soft on countries that deserve a Tier 3 ranking."

"I am particularly proud of the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act that was passed by this committee and enacted into law in the last Congress."

"There is no required action by the administration to evaluate every human rights violator around the world, that is correct."

"We believe we need the flexibility to determine, in consultation with Congress, when financial and other sanctions will do more good than harm."