Ben Cardin

We need a vehicle like the Magnitsky bill, for example, that sends a message to Russia that we are serious about human rights and that we will deny visas and block assets of persons who are human rights violators.

Do you not see the correlation between the consequences of a Russia that does these things and the domestic concerns that we have that actually affect your businesses?

The United States has to show the leadership, has to have tough sanctions.

We can deny al-Bashir the opportunity to hide his wealth, it will have a major impact.

Sanctions are important if they can be enforced internationally.

Tracking that money, tracking that wealth, would have a major impact on the comfort of their leaders.

I, too, join in thanking our two witnesses for everything you are doing to make a difference in the lives of people who are being victimized.

You are really helping us focus on this humanitarian disaster.

Some of us have joined together what is known as the Magnitsky bill, which deals with human rights violators.

The failure to bring the Government to account for their violations of international law, we are paying a heavy price for that.

There has been strong U.S. leadership in this region for a long time, but still the humanitarian disasters continue under our watch.

Darfur happened under our watch, which was a failure of the civilized world to take appropriate action.

Let us keep working to fulfill the promise of the American dream for all our citizens.

I was proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to hold a foreclosure prevention workshop.

My own State of Maryland has become a model for the Nation in strategies for combating foreclosures.

I know from my own State of Maryland that families and communities are still hurting from the effects of lending discrimination and foreclosure abuses.

I think it would be helpful for us if you could give us how we can evaluate progress made on Feed the Future.

Transparency is important so that we can actually trace how the funds are being used.

By fighting hunger and disease, we fight the despair that can fuel violent extremism and conflict.

My concern is that USAID is being asked to devote resources to a politically determined objective, rather than to maximizing development impact.

Our involvement in Haiti pretty much parallels your leadership in USAID.

And please keep us informed on those initiatives. There is a great deal of interest.

By extending freedom, opportunity and dignity to people throughout the world, we express our core American values and demonstrate American leadership.

In closing, as I did with Secretary Clinton last week, I would like to express my appreciation to the men and women of USAID.

I believe that our international development assistance is a critical investment in America's national security.