Ben Cardin

Europe is in very serious shape right now. That should be a concern of the United States because a strong Europe is in the United States' interest.

A strong, healthy Europe, including a strong European Union and a strong NATO alliance is a vital national security interest for the United States.

Part of the legislation deals exactly with that point.

They should not be getting sanction relief unless they comply with the Helsinki Accords and remove itself from Crimea and its incursions into eastern Ukraine.

Russia is a signatory of the 1975 Helsinki Accords, and they have violated every one of the principal commitments in Helsinki by what they have done in Ukraine.

I would just urge--in your statement you say that we should not give sanction relief unless Russia complies with Minsk, and I fully agree with that statement.

What we learned with Iran is that we were able to be effective and bring Iran to the negotiating table because the United States and Europe worked together.

But I want to move to the parity here with working with Europe, which I agree with, as we work with Russia.

I think we have got an opportunity to work in a seamless fashion together with you to have the kind of outcomes that we wish.

The European Union is a reliable, trusted, and credible global actor

I could not agree more that Russia has empowered Assad to do what he is doing.

Americans and Europeans need to speak with one voice on the important transatlantic values we hold dear: democracy, human rights, and the just, accountable rule of law.

I was proud to draft legislation earlier this year that now is supported by 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats.

The fact that Russia is enabling the Assad regime to break any form of standards as far as the use of chemical weapons.

This could only be done by the Assad regime. And, of course, Russia is supporting the Assad regime's use of this type of warfare.

I think it is very, very important that we share a lot in our transatlantic partnership, and one of the things we share is that we are all targeted by Russia's activities to our democratic institutions.

Along with Senator Udall, I voted for the AUMF when I was in the House.

I think if you put your arm around a country and show that you are a strong friend and ally and stand with them, it is easier to have a candid conversation where you say to President Sisi, you cannot crack down your country into stability.

I do not see that from the Secretary of State. He has a different way of operating.

I wish it was true that the President's budget was thrown in the waste basket, but it is very much referred to by stakeholders.

Renewed and vigorous U.S. leadership... has never been more necessary.

I am concerned that our position as the leader of the free world is at risk.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

And I just really wanted this Committee to be aware.

This is an issue I just want to bring to the Committee's attention because it is extremely frustrating.