Ben Cardin

If we do not lead, the rest of the world will not.

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.

So when they get upset like Tiananmen Square, we see violence and we see rights taken away.

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.

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

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.

We have a China that is not protecting United States intellectual property rights.

The rebalance to Asia is critically important to the United States.

It is absolutely accurate.

The United States is the only country that is going to lead on this.

Should we sit back and do nothing? What should we do?

We need to be better in our economic relationships with China to understand that there is going to be a level playing field.

I want it actively engaged around the world, but we have got to stand up for what we believe in.

If the Senator will yield, do the people who are suggesting that this amendment be voted on recognize that they are making this a conditional approval vote and therefore that if Iran were to recognize Israel, if this were to become law and…

The bottom line is we want to protect the communities, and we want to hold those that are responsible accountable for the reclamation.

I would hope all of would agree upon is that we do want the independent review, and we want it done with the integrity of an independent review.

We need a regional strategy that is credible, that is achievable.

U.S. leadership is desperately needed for stability in this region.

I supported that along the Turkish border to create a place for these people to be, inside their own country.

I just want to underscore one thing that the chairman said, last Congress we worked together to try to provide authorization for helping the moderate opposition in Syria.

It is difficult to figure out how we can deal with so many players, including Russia and Iran.

We have had some success, particularly with the Kurdish forces, in both Iraq and Syria.

I believe the United States has a critical and necessary leadership role to play in helping to combat ISIL and restoring stability to the region.

In Iraq, this will require leaders willing to take bold steps beyond party, ethnic, and religious interests.

In Syria, we must reinvigorate a plan for Assad's exit.