Ben Cardin actually said...

"I find historically our relationships with large countries where we have many, many issues such as China, that human rights concerns are always a struggle to get on the agenda."

"Meanwhile, people are in prison, and meanwhile people cannot practice their religion."

"We will not have as constructive a relationship with China as we should if they do not take steps in a positive direction to deal with their human rights problems."

"It cries out for congressional action. We have done that. We have initiated human rights actions against major countries, and it has been pretty effective."