There are short-term gains to try to help in regard to our military objectives. There are long-term development goals that we are trying to achieve in Afghanistan.

Whereas the United States seems to have primarily prioritized security, hoping that they could catch up on governance later, what we find in everything from think tank studies to academic studies to experience on the ground is that…

Part of the challenge of being a development professional in a place like Afghanistan is making sure that the important initiatives that are done to achieve short-term gains correspond with and support long-term development objectives.

I do not think we are going to make progress in Afghanistan unless we really have changes in anticorruption activities.

In Afghanistan, as is the case everywhere, all politics are local.

It is, certainly, a much different country than it was in 2001. A lot of progress has been made.

it is my understanding that some of my colleagues want to talk about our visit to Paris, but I understand Senator Hatch will be on the floor at 2:45 p.m. and we are recessing at 3 o'clock. Mr President, I ask unanimous consent that the…

I had the opportunity of heading a delegation this past weekend of 10 Senators who went to Paris for the COP21 talks, the climate change talks taking place in Paris. I was very proud of our delegation consisting of Senator Whitehouse…

I think Congress will pass a plan B, it is a matter of when, if the peace process does not go forward.

A peace agreement is the best option, if it is viable. The ceasefire has not been adhered to. People are being brutalized.

Being held accountable for atrocities and violations of international standards is not a matter between the two political sides of South Sudan.

When do we expect the Commission to come on line?

The kleptocracy initiative I think should actively pursue cases involving the misappropriation of South Sudan assets.

the United States needs to exercise strong international leadership that the perpetrators of these atrocities will be held accountable, period, the end.

unless you are going to somehow or another absolve these two leaders of their wrongdoings and let them continue to have the resources that they have stolen from their own citizens and probably from us, let us face it, that there is no way…

Let us starve the fighting, not the people.

today is International Anti-Corruption Day. As the United States works to support good governance and anti- corruption efforts around the world, I wish to highlight one country, Ukraine, where these efforts are vital to the future…

To date, few of the provisions of the peace agreement have been implemented.

What is plan B, in order to protect the people of South Sudan? Does the international community with U.S. leadership have a plan B, so we are not faced with a growing and longstanding endangerment of the people of South Sudan, as we saw in…

today I wish to celebrate a truly bipartisan, bicameral accomplishment. For the first time in 14 years, Congress is on the precipice of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ESEA. First enacted 50 years ago as a part of…

If there is anything we can do in regards to more effective delivery of humanitarian assistance, please let us know.

We prefer the country to take care of it itself. If it cannot, then the international community must respond.

This is why the government's closure of political space is so dangerous.

Congress should pass the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, S. 284, introduced in the Senate by Ranking Member Cardin.

I think that would be very helpful. Thank you.