Ben Cardin actually said...

"Again, Secretary Sullivan, thank you so much for your willingness to take on these responsibilities."

"I want to give the administration maximum flexibility, but where Congress has said that this area... it seems to me that we are the policy arm."

"This is an extremely important hearing, the review of the State Department reauthorization bill for fiscal year 2018, as well as the State Department's reorganization plans."

"These are not confirmed positions, and, therefore, they gain a lot of power at times, where a confirmed person should have personal responsibility."