I am deeply concerned that our strategies during the next couple months need to be focused on European unity and focused on the culprit in Ukraine, which is Russia.

So what do we do to specifically hold Ukraine accountable on judicial reform?

we have to be more aggressive in supporting Ukraine and isolating Russia's influence.

I agree with you that Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the one that invaded Crimea and took it over and invaded eastern Ukraine.

Are the reforms aimed at giving judges the independence they need to make independent choices rather than just following the will of the political elite?

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank Senator Corker. The two of us have worked on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee without any partisanship. These are foreign policy issues that require the Senate to work together, and I want…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The…

I am certainly disappointed by the Senator from Texas objecting to the request of the senior Senator from Maryland, Ms. Mikulski. The request of Senator Mikulski is for us to consider two article III judges who are next in line for…

I would just remind the committee of the discussions on the omnibus appropriations bill.

That is not progress. The Hispanic community in this country is growing and already represents 13 percent of the overall American population.

This is not something that we created, that the President created.

Climate change is a huge issue for the security of America.

There are many areas where Congress needs to act.

Every place I travel and talk to our missions, in countries that are either in transition or have challenges, they tell me, 'Give me more money for democracy. Give me more money for more focus on anticorruption issues.'

I want to know what you are doing to make sure that we carry out our commitment to have the face of America representative of the people of America.

The American people understand that the modest investment we make, less than 1 percent of the budget, is very important for national security.

Your point about through the appropriations process underscores the point that Senator Perdue and Senator Corker have made.

I thank you, because we do share the same responsibility of this committee to oversee the State Department's handling of information.

I do not know how we transition to a sustainable support for your mission when we are using OCO funds that will not be there.

The bottom line is, we need to pass an authorization bill.

I would agree with the chairman.

The United Nations reform issues, it is controversial, I will admit that, but we need to deal with these issues.

It is important to our national security, as our military has suggested.

I agree with Senator Corker in that, as I travel and meet people who are in Foreign Service, they are incredible, and they deserve the full support and thanks of the American people and our political system, so I strongly support their…

In certain respects, we are hamstringing the State Department by our failure to pass an authorization bill.