Everybody should pay their fair amount.

If we could reform our tax code... to be more in harmony regarding how we collect taxes, as the OECD countries are, so that we would end up with the lowest marginal tax rates among the OECD countries, would it not make some of these…

If they do not, what should we do?

It has to be part of the equation.

To me, you can never put a stamp of approval on this election under those circumstances.

I do not see a path forward at this particular moment. That is very frustrating.

In 1975, the Soviet Union, in order to show that they were truly a democratic state in the eyes of the globe, joined us in establishing the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

I would just urge that we have to figure out a way to break through the bureaucracy of the State Department to make this a much higher priority than it is today.

It would be wonderful if just the U.S. example would be enough to change behavior among those who have power.

You just violated a tradition of the United States Senate. Senator Byrd would not be happy.

We have been urging working with Transparency International to develop standards where we can report on the status of anticorruption in the countries of the world.

I would point out that one thing you could do at State is work within the bureaucracies of the Department of State to put a higher priority on the damage of corruption.

This hearing is particularly important as we talk about democratic transitions in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia has been elevated in its relationship with the United States as a TPP partner.

I have the honor of being the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and earlier today I had a chance to be with the other Members of the Senate and the Ambassador from France to express our solidarity, our condolences…

I ask to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I would hope, as we look at a reform bill, that we have your input as to how this committee and the comparable committee in the House of Representatives, the Foreign Affairs Committee, can carry out our responsibility as authorizing…

We need to empower the CEO and future CEOs with the authority to run BBG's complex organizations.

U.S. international broadcasting is an integral component of our efforts to advance freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

I just tell you in my experiences with the Voice of America and the people who work for the Voice of America, they are top flight. They are good people.

Today citizens around the world, specifically those living in closed and restricted societies, continue to rely on U.S. international broadcasting.

I agree with Senator Corker. We are fighting propaganda. I understand that. But the way we fight propaganda is through the truth, through information, and part of that is the Internet.

Why not allow these funds to be fungible so that we can be quickly responsive to the needs of America?

I think this debate has been extremely interesting. I think it makes it clear that Congress needs to act.

All of the journalists, whether they work for the government or work for the grantees, must have independence.