Ben Cardin actually said...

"Thank you very much for conducting this hearing and let me thank both of our witnesses for their incredible service."

"What has happened of late is so discouraging to see so-called mature democracies take steps that are so punitive against a population that has been in their country for a long period of time and denie..."

"Without the United States putting a spotlight on it, it is going to be a secondary issue in Europe."

"If it wanted to be an independent country, then the path was there and it required a minimum of effort on democracy and human rights."