Ben Cardin

What has undercut Russia's relationship with the West and NATO is President Putin and his aspirations for an antiquated notion of empire.

I think moving in that direction would be exactly what Russia does not want to see happen.

Russia does not want to see NATO expanded on their borders.

I think your points are very well taken.

I think they are all important points about the economics of the issues.

They are very concerned about that.

Our resolution of last week called on the administration to bring back to us within 90 days plan for how we are going to be more aggressive in the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The United States is the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees outside Syria, $1.7 billion in aid.

I think we find it very exciting. You are really leveraging the strength of America, the strength of America in our science and technology and what we have been able to discover and share with the world, as well as our entrepreneurial…

It also reduces the cost that we would incur in direct health services to deal with babies that are infected.

Development assistance is a critical part of our national security interest, and the Obama administration has made it clear that our national security budget includes the development assistance programs.

I do remain deeply concerned about the resources for the Western Hemisphere. They are insufficient to meet the challenges of the region and its importance to our own economic prosperity, security, and our shared interests in health and…

There is only one entity responsible for the imprisonment of Alan Gross, and that is the Cuban regime.

I think it is dumb, dumb, and even dumber to go ahead and suggest that there can be freedom, and that we should seek freedom of Internet access and freedom of expression globally, but that somehow the people of Cuba do not deserve the same…

It is common sense that we should not ask the Government of Iran or Egypt or China for permission to support advocates of free speech, human rights, or political pluralism, or to provide uncensored access to the Internet or social media.

I thank Senator Shaheen for her leadership on these issues and so many other issues in the Senate. I listened to the Senator's comments and I fully concur in the information the Senator has brought forward, that paycheck fairness is not…

But Syria's aggression against its own people--there is no question in my mind it has to be held accountable, and we have said that we will.

I have been very vocal in the human rights violations that have occurred in Syria.

I would just point out that the acknowledgement of a Palestinian state is up front. It seems to me that the U.S. position is a clear--as part of the outcome, the international recognition of a Jewish state. That is not a negotiable point.

The only way that we can try to reduce this type of action in the future is to make it clear those that are responsible are, in fact, held accountable by the international community.

Madam Chairman, thank you for holding today's hearing to fill three critical positions within our Federal Government.

I want to thank all of you for being here. The three nominees, you are great. I am going to do everything I can in my power to get you confirmed.

If Congress lacks the will to act on the greatest threat to our environment, than I believe EPA must act to regulate carbon pollution.

I personally think China respects that, a clear understanding of where the United States is, consistent with our historical commitments to the people of Taiwan.

I do not see the visit of a Cabinet-level officer to Taiwan as being the litmus test for what constitutes a robust relationship