Ben Cardin

I just want to say, in my opinion that is a big win for America, and a big win for the United States Senate.

I am a strong proponent of congressional review and us having a say, especially when it is going to affect, in a significant way, foreign policy.

I think we are going to have to take a very similar approach as we deal with the Taylor Force law.

I would point out, as the chairman and I worked very hard on the Russian sanctions bill that passed overwhelmingly on the floor of the Senate, that bill is more prescriptive than we have been in the past on how we desire sanctions to be…

The time has come, Mr. Chairman, where we are going to have to be much more prescriptive.

I am convinced that we will take action, and that we will come together on legislation.

What the Palestinian Authority is doing is financing terrorism. That must end.

The Palestinian system of prisoner and terrorist payment must end--must end. It is an incitement to violence.

Senator McConnell is correct, and that we need to make sure that the individual market is a stronger market than it is today.

I think it is critically important to create a very high standard in the NAFTA negotiations that preserves the gains made on human rights and anticorruption commitments in TPP.

I think both of you agree we should repeal both 2001 and 2002--replaced.

The administration is not having that dialogue with us.

After the attack on 9/11, all of us wanted to take action against those who caused that tragedy.

I think this subject needs the open hearings in our committee.

We are now 16 years beyond the 2001 AUMF, and yet it continues to be used as justification for a wide range of military operations.

Congress has a responsibility to express itself on the use of military force and that the interpretations of both Democratic and Republican administrations on our 2001 authorization certainly go well beyond what Congress intended.

We cannot run away from this responsibility, and I thank you for holding this hearing.

I think it was the United States Senate, guided by this committee, that did exactly what we needed to do in regards to the appropriate role of Congress.

I agree with you that Congress has a responsibility to be clear on its authorization and to repeal the 2001 and replace it.

I do not believe Congress has authorized force.

It was not terribly controversial, but it did contain a restriction.

I thank Senators Menendez, Blumenthal, Brown, Hirono, Markey, Klobuchar, Van Hollen, Booker, Peters, Duckworth, and Carper for their help in regard to minority health and the resolution.

The FY 18 Budget Request makes a draconian $1 Billion cut to the FMF program, exempting only Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

I know this Friday the President is going to be laying out Cuba policy.

I appreciate the comments you made about IDA and some of the things that we can do.