Ben Cardin

We do need a level playing field on energy.

We need nuclear power. It is 20 percent of our electricity today.

I would agree with you and others who have talked about the importance of nuclear power as a consistent and reliable source of energy in the United States.

I do think that is the clearest, easiest way that we can reward clean energy.

I personally have made it very clear that issue of human rights, particularly women's rights, is second to terrorism in terms of the hierarchy of U.S. policy importance.

The challenge is that there are normally waivers that are done in those circumstances or it gets involved in the discussions on cooperation on anti-terrorism, and sometimes the commitments to human rights gets pushed to the back burner.

We are likewise pressing for women's inclusion in any future peace efforts.

We have urged Pakistan's leaders to exercise their considerable leverage over the Taliban.

Any congressional approval of further assistance to Afghanistan should and must depend on the shape of the Government there.

The only path to international legitimacy is through the democratic process and a peace deal that serves the interests of the Afghan people.

We cannot trust the Taliban with America's security.

There is no military solution to what is now a 4-year conflict in Afghanistan.

The Biden administration has blown through a certification deadline and a reporting deadline established under the law.

An American departure puts Afghan women, minorities, and girls under serious threat of losing their hard-earned rights.

I don't believe under any circumstances that the United States Senate support--will support assistance for Afghanistan, especially under the World Bank's program which provides budget support, if the Taliban has taken a governing role that…

If the Taliban were to come back to power, the reality for Afghanistan's women and girls, I think, would be devastating.

It may be necessary for congressional action to make it clear to the Afghan Government that, if there is backsliding, the Administration is not going to be able to save them in negotiations.

If Afghanistan, with or without the Taliban, wants to be a country that is respected globally and does not want to be a pariah state, then they are going to live up to their commitments on anti-terrorism and on human rights.

I have repeatedly demanded the Taliban release of Mark Frerichs.

How will we gather the intelligence necessary to keep these groups at bay?

I appreciate the desire to get our troops out of Afghanistan. That is something that I support.

Does the Administration have a robust Special Immigrant Visa and refugee asylum plan in place to rapidly process what I think may be thousands of Afghans who may need to leave the country?

I think it is pernicious. It is corrosive. And it is continuous.

China's activity in the China Sea is anything but in our national security interests.

I hope you will be--and all the panelists will be--free in giving us suggestions as to what we should be considering as we take up our relationship with China.