Ben Cardin

The last several budgets by the Obama administration have tried to balance that to reflect the priority in Asia.

Right now, the pivot is being looked at again, because, candidly, it cannot happen.

Strong, enduring, bipartisan congressional support for our alliances and the close cooperation between the legislative branches of our three countries have been critical to the success we have achieved over the last six decades.

Our alliances with Japan and the ROK are rooted in shared strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

Bipartisan congressional support for our alliances and the close cooperation between the legislative branches of our three countries have been critical to the success we have achieved over the last six decades.

Let me welcome you all to the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs' hearing, 'Strengthening the U.S. Alliance in Northeast Asia.'

It is critically important that the United States...use our relationships to improve the relationship between those two countries.

We want to see good relations with all the countries in that region of the world.

Another reason why how Ukraine is ultimately resolved is so important.

If Russia's activities in Ukraine go unchallenged, does this raise the concern that China could use that as an example for its own military actions?

There is no dispute that Crimea is Ukrainian territory, yet Russia is using its military there.

What we need to do, in our mind, or things that we should be looking at, are strengthening Social Security, as has been said, expanding access to low-cost and quality plans, such as the myRA.

The risk of an insecure retirement is especially acute for women, for minorities, and for lower-income Americans.

My colleague, Senator Harkin, has proposed a way to do this, his USA Retirement Accounts. It is legislation, I believe, with great merit.

The Saver's Credit is a very valuable tool. Six million workers today are getting a benefit.

We have to, first, protect Social Security, make sure it is strong and remains strong.

The proposal from Treasury to introduce the myRA program is a step in the right direction.

The automatic enrollment feature where you have to opt out has also been effective.

The Saver's Credit has worked. Millions of Americans today have retirement accounts who would not have retirement accounts but for the Saver's Credit.

The President's decision to withdraw what I believe is the ill-conceived policy of chained CPI should put an end to treating Social Security as another trading piece in budget negotiations.

I think it is critically important that we do a long-term surface transportation reauthorization, to give predictability to our transportation program in this Country.

I just hoped you would be very visible with those agencies that are not meeting the goal and certainly not complying with the spirit, that we want prime contracts for small businesses just not subcontracts.

I have been disappointed by the results on loans being made to small businesses.

I want to just join in recognizing your extraordinary leadership as the chair of this Committee.

The elections are critically important, democratic institutions are critically important, following through on their plans to deal with corruption are vitally important.