Ben Cardin

Protection of human rights is the bedrock. It is the underpinning of American and world society.

This is a critically important position, the Ambassador to China.

The Clean Air Act is critically important and you have a responsibility to carry out that law.

I think it is pretty clear that Congress expects full consolidation and that that is not able but I would hope that you would work with Congress rather than--we expect full consolidation.

The Committee on the Consolidation of the FBI... is one that we will want to be a clear example of what we can do to reduce carbon emissions.

Clearly the American people want clean air. And clearly the American people want a clean environment.

While I am disappointed that the politics of Washington prevents Congress from enacting legislation to address both the causes and effects of climate change, our Nation is very fortunate to have an Administration that is able to rise above…

I urge my colleagues to think about how future generations will look back upon our political squabbling and inaction to legislate meaningful policies to curb carbon pollution.

Thank you for holding fast on science, because the science is clear.

There was strong resistance for us dealing with labor and environment within a trade agreement, Mr. Chairman, and we finally got that changed.

Trade Promotion Authority is a reasonable request.

I think we have to be bolder than that.

I will point out that we heard similar arguments when the United States took the leadership to use trade to bring down the Apartheid government in South Africa.

We are delegating our authority. We have the authority, and we are giving up our rights to be able to make specific changes.

I think it is important that we have a clear role that we play with the administration during trade agreements.

This is a good first step, this hearing on Trade Promotion Authority, but we do need to hear from the administration, and we need to have them here.

No law enforcement agency is going to be effective at reducing crime or protecting people if they do not have the trust of the people whom they serve.

What commitment can you make to us that you will ensure equal access to all citizens to the Tax Court?

Let me thank all three of our nominees for their continuation of public service. It is a sacrifice, we know that, and it is a family sacrifice.

We are grateful for the bipartisan support of members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

I thank Senator Nelson and Senator Collins for holding this hearing.

The United States has unique influence and a deep reservoir of good will in South Sudan that gives it an indispensable role in overcoming the current crisis.

This crisis was neither inevitable nor ethnically motivated. It is a political crisis precipitated by the failure of President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to settle their political differences without resort to…

I think one of the problems that we have is that those who perpetrate ethnic cleansing do not believe the international community will ever hold them accountable for their crimes against humanity.

The United States should move to invoke the President's authorities to institute travel bans and asset freezes on senior leadership on both sides.