one of the great honors of serving in the U.S. Senate--and it is a great honor to serve in this body--is the fact that I have had the opportunity to serve with Carl Levin. I think Senator Levin represents the very best of our political…

I ask unanimous consent that floor privileges be granted to Kelly McKellogg Swaine, the Deputy Director of the Office of Public Affairs at the State Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who is currently serving on my…

one of the truly nice things about serving in the Senate is the people we meet. Myrna and I consider Frank and Mary to be our friends. She is an incredible person and has given incredible service. I am sorry the people of Louisiana could…

I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking my State Department foreign policy fellow, Kelly McKellogg Swain, for her exemplary service to the Senate and to wish her well as she returns to the State Department as her fellowship in my…

I am pleased to introduce the Progressive Consumption Tax Act of 2014. We need a tax code that is fair for American employers and fair for American families. We need a tax code that makes our U.S.-based businesses more competitive…

for 65 years the Voice of America Ukrainian Service has been a vital source of comprehensive and unbiased information for the Ukrainian people. During the Cold War, VOA's uncensored, truthful reporting of the news was a beacon of freedom…

Just let me point out for the record, a 3-year authorization goes into the next administration, so----

this week I received several requests from international advocate groups to speak out against the injustice that is taking place in other countries with regard to their judicial system. It is not unusual to get a request in the United…

I do not want to----

I think your testimony has been extremely helpful, and I thank you for that.

I ask unanimous consent all time be yielded back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back. Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state. The…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coons). Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Major David Wilson

this is a bittersweet moment for me, because Maj. David Wilson, who has served in my office in an exemplary way in the Air Force Fellowship Program, will be leaving my office this week. He has been there for the past year. He has been an…

I ask unanimous consent that floor privileges be granted to Maj. David Wilson, a U.S. Air Force officer who is currently serving as a defense legislative follow in my office for the duration of today's session of the Senate. The PRESIDING…

In 1992, we said human rights are of great importance to the United States and directly relevant to U.S. interests in Hong Kong.

It appears very clear to us that China is influencing the implementation of universal suffrage in a way that is inconsistent with the commitment they gave.

I think the United States continues to be quite inconsistent about issues about political rights and democracy in Hong Kong and China.

this does not leave me hopeful that this is a government that, at any point in the near future, is going to be more open and more accommodating.

This will be the last hearing that I chair for the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

that bodes ill for the future of the region, and, quite frankly, of the world, as China takes on a greater economic and military importance.

The people of Hong Kong deserve no less than their counterparts in other countries.

if we are hanging our hopes that more economic interchange with them is going to somehow transform them into a more open, more liberalized, and more inclusive government, it does not seem that way at this point.

This is not a technical violation... this is clearly inconsistent and totally against the commitment made by China for allowing universal suffrage.

I do believe that the autonomy is very important.

I think actions are also important. And we are concerned about how the protesters are going to be treated.