The historic term 'resource curse' applies very clearly to these countries.

Everything we are hearing from Europe is that if Minsk II goes forward, then the sanctions are unlikely to continue.

These are countries that have serious corruption issues. They are not good governance countries.

Well, I thank you for your candor. I didn't particularly like the answers, but I appreciate your candor.

I think it is one area this committee may want to take a look at, Mr. Chairman, as we see the international organizations that we have jurisdiction over here, their involvement in this, absolutely we should be demanding that there be…

Mr. Chairman, first of all, thank you very much for convening this hearing.

We have to deal with the problems that exist today before we look at how we are going to deal with multiemployer plans moving forward.

today I wish to recognize the tragic deaths of two fellow Marylanders. Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey and Senior Deputy Mark Logsdon of the Harford County Sheriff's Office were killed in the line of duty on February 10. I join the people of…

Obviously, we need to do something about this.

I rise today to recognize February as National Children's Dental Health Month. Since 1981, this month has afforded us the opportunity to acknowledge the importance of children's dental health, recognize the significant strides we have made…

I join the Nation in offering my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Justice Scalia, who was an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. For more than three decades, Justice Scalia devoted himself to the rule of law and…

And, Leah, it happens here in the United States.

It is certainly within our jurisdiction. And, as you know, this budget provides an additional billion dollars in that regard.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of his bill, and I think all of us are grateful for his initiative and his focus.

if they get legal representation, then that helps us go after the trafficker

You know, we hear the millions, but they are real people. Each one is a person with a story and a family.

I thank him for that. Today's hearing is just one more chapter in that record.

We want to take it to the next level.

Evelyn, you point out that parents want a better life for their children.

Well, first, I want to thank all of our witnesses, but I particularly want to thank Leah and Evelyn for putting a face on this issue.

I can assure you that this hearing is going to have an impact on action in this committee.

It is modern-day slavery, and we have to do everything we can to end this.

We may need to try to strengthen that, because your point about being able to return to your country is a issue that we may be able to handle.

I think [McCain] is one of the great human rights leaders in the United States Senate.

Whether it is a wildlife products trafficking or human trafficking, drugs, or weapons, there are these evil transnational networks, and we need to take a stronger step to show that this country, which was founded on liberty, and which had…