Ben Cardin

There is no person in the United States Senate that is more protective of the role of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee than our chairman, Chairman Corker.

The simple answer, Senator, is yes, we do have a looming problem.

We need to be very gut-honest about how impoverished we have been in maintaining our infrastructure systems.

The public is not aware, sometimes, of the risks of ignorance that we have put ourselves in.

We really need a stronger commitment for the basic programs, the revolving funds, et cetera, so that we can modernize our water infrastructure.

Affordability is the key issue on our water.

We need to invest in ways to deal with this.

The Appalachia Highway System program now... is absolutely vital for job creation in western Maryland.

We are not proud of the fact that we get a D on infrastructure.

To me, this is one of the most important subjects we have to deal with as an area where we can get Democrats and Republicans working with this Administration to get things done.

The bottom line is, what is the appropriate authorization for the use of force by Congress?

We have to be cautious. We want to get rid of ISIS. We want to get rid of terrorists. But we have to have a game plan.

I think there is general consensus here that we do not want to see U.S. military in a sustained ground combat operation.

I think the first step, as it relates to Syria, is to have the administration lay out a plan

I would not draw a line and say no boots on the ground or have some policy like that.

I have all the confidence in our military carrying out a military mission.

But they are being placed in the lead here, which has me concerned.

But long term, we do not have a solution, and we are back to where we were, in a long process with perhaps emboldening the recruitment of extremists.

Propaganda is an accelerant on the process of radicalization.

Our campaign cannot, in my view, be globally led by the military alone.

I believe we should deploy it without hesitation.

ISIS is a global threat. ISIS is a global challenge. That is why I believe we need a global, comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS and protect American national security interests.

This ban needs to end, and the Congress needs to speak, and I hope this hearing will be the beginning of our debate here in this committee as to how we can help in regards to our fight against ISIS.

The Muslim ban is a recruitment tool that will be used that will hurt our chances of defeating ISIS.

There is no sustainable win against ISIS without a long-term political solution.