Well, Mr. Chairman, thank you. I want to thank our witnesses.

What would be on top of your wish list if we could make certain changes to gain greater access for our companies in the international market?

You have some concerns with Senator Blumenthal's bill, that the exemption may be too broad also.

The exemption is too broad in that bill?

You are absolutely right. Looking at your legislation, I see how it could very much benefit the State of Maryland.

It would be helpful if you could get specific comments to us as soon as possible as far as legislative changes because I cannot speak for the Chairman of the committee, but I know the calendar is moving.

I urge the members of this subcommittee to support this legislation so that we can put an end to inhumane, dangerous and wasteful private ownership of big cats.

I believe this is a common sense approach to prevent the further spread of invasive species.

I fully recognize the need for you to have the authority to go after those who have damaged our refuges and to be able to get the compensation you need in order to restore and repair what has been done.

We appreciate your leadership on this issue. You have been a strong leader in the areas of adaptation.

It makes no sense, and we have to improve the Federal Government's ability to quickly respond to these threats.

You have all been supportive of the efforts by some of my colleagues, Senator Whitehouse dealing with adaptation, Senator Udall dealing with water efficiencies, I think Senator Feinstein has a bill also dealing with some of the habitat…

I have worked closely on this legislation with Congresswoman Louise Slaughter in response to the real and severe threats that my State of New York faces with regard to invasive species.

Senator Levin's bill authorizes the GLRI, among other important Great Lakes programs.

Now is the time for Congress to authorize the GLRI for the long haul.

Can you get those comments to us as quickly as possible?

Senator Heller's proposal dealing with the quagga mussel, do you have a view on that?

There seems to be general agreement that the quagga mussel should be listed.

I have the honor of being the Senate chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and the ranking Republican Member is Senator Wicker. We join with our House colleagues in the work of the Helsinki Commission. I mention that because this past…

I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to enter into a colloquy with my colleagues Senator Wicker and Senator Harkin. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. U.S. Helsinki Commission

I wish to honor the memory of one of the world's most courageous humanitarians: Raoul Wallenberg. Seventy years ago today, Raoul Wallenberg arrived in Budapest, risking his own life to save the lives of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews…

First, the Senator was able to meet with the President of Azerbaijan. We thank him for that. He was able to adjust his calendar to do that and we appreciate it because it was very important to hear the message the Senator gave on the floor…

I appreciate the Senator mentioning Congressman Smith's resolution on child sex trafficking. That was a separate resolution that was approved by the parliamentary assembly. The Helsinki Commission has been in the forefront on trafficking…

I wish to be identified with Senator Wicker's comments, and again I thank all the participants, the eight Members who took their time to participate on behalf of the United States. With that, I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The…

15 years ago this week three American citizens--the brothers Ylli, Agron and Mehmet Bytyqi--were transferred from a prison to an Interior Ministry camp in Eastern Serbia. At that camp, they were executed and buried in a mass grave with…