Ben Cardin actually said...

"The TIP Report is a very valuable report. The rankings have incredible significance, not just in shaming nations to do better."

"It is called impunity. You may have laws, you may have prosecution, but if you cannot convict, if you cannot hold people accountable, they walk, and they know that they can commit the crimes."

"But to upgrade a rating you would expect that there had been progress made."

"It seems to me that taking them off of Tier 3 takes the pressure off."