Ben Cardin

To me, the strength of America and its influence globally is in our ideals.

If Congress through the Tax Code, the Earned Income Tax Credit, through the Child Tax Credit, we could strengthen the ability of families to be able to have the budget they need.

I do think, though, that we have to deal with some of the points that Senator Heitkamp mentioned, and that is the general frustration that is out there.

We are the legislative branch of Government. We are the ones who should be trying to come to a consensus here.

Congress has taken little initiative to deal with some of the fundamental issues that would allow for the mobility.

The challenge is that we have a growing economy, but not everyone has been able to benefit by the growing economy.

I think it is important that the Small Business Committee is holding a hearing on the impact of regulations, particularly as it relates to small companies.

I think speaking out more publicly against some of these violations, but also taking actions that can assure or reassure the vast majority of Africans in these countries that when the United States says that democracy is one of its core…

If you are not prepared to break your partnership with a corrupt regime, then I think you are doing a disservice.

I am not satisfied that the United Nations has done everything it needs to do.

If the host country believes that they are always going to have a partner regardless of their own activities, you lose the ability to change the underlying problems within that country.

It is not a choice of either/or. It has got to be both.

If you have a corrupt regime and you are doing some good work in that country, but at least part of that is going to support a corrupt regime, are you prepared to pull out?

So you are willing to pull out of a country if you cannot get the cooperation you need from their leaders?

I think border issues are--it is a good point and we need to concentrate.

If we do not deal with the underlying causes, it will be short-term success.

We are sending our own messages as loudly as we can, including at this hearing, that we want to see greater funds for democracy and governance.

I would think that democracy and governance funding is a clear indication of our commitment to good governance and human rights.

From fiscal year 2013 to 2015, the security assistance budgets for Africa have gone up from a half a billion to a billion.

I have not seen the same degree of effort and energy in regards to concerns on the poor governance and violations of human rights.

My concern is are we giving countries a free pass who are partners in our counterterrorism campaigns, on human rights and poor governance?

Civility begins with building strong and stable democratic processes, addressing individual and collective grievances...

The U.N. mission in Mali is the deadliest peacekeeping mission that we have anywhere.

There is a common theme of poor governance. And that is an issue that provides a vacuum and that vacuum is usually filled with instability and recruitment of extremists.

The amount of escalating violence in this region is a major concern and requires the attention of this committee, of the United States Senate, and the American people.