Ben Cardin

I urge this Committee and the Senate to support his nomination.

Mr. Chairman, could I just thank you for the accommodations for this hearing?

This hearing is about Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Tillerson's views, though I think we are going to have some specific questions because of statements made by Mr. Trump.

Well, again, Senator Corker, thank you very much for the accommodations in this hearing.

The State Department's most recent human rights report notes that the most important human rights issues in Rwanda are government harassment and arrest of political dissidents; restrictions on media freedom and civil liberties; and…

If confirmed, I will continue to emphasize the importance of judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.

I believe the U.S. must continue to resolutely support the democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people.

I believe the Summit can allow the United States and its like-minded partners to call on Cuba to implement reforms consistent with the highest values of our hemisphere, such as our support for democracy and respect for human rights.

I assure you that it is a priority for the administration to ensure that we have the necessary support and coalition to hold the Syrian regime accountable.

Let me make this clear. We made it more complicated, basically, at the request of our international partners and the administration, so they had flexibility.

If we do not draw a line in the Middle East, it is going to be all-out proliferation.

I understand you may not be prepared to answer that question today. But this committee is going to be very interested in how we treat a NATO partner violating our Russia sanctions provisions.

The law is pretty specific. They are mandatory sanctions.

We do know that the Russia is out of compliance with the INF.

Thank you. I appreciate that answer.

Well, Senator Rubio, first of all, thank you for conducting this hearing and chairing this hearing.

Throughout my Foreign Service career, I have promoted human rights and democracy around the globe in meaningful ways.

I just want to underscore one additional area of concern that has not come out, and that is the Russia veto of the joint investigative mechanism under the chemical weapons inspection regime.

I would just urge you, that January 29th date we expect to be complied with. We are not looking for extensions of that date.

If, in fact, the report shows that they have reached the required limit, do you believe we should extend the New START for the 5-year provision?

We need to maintain the UAE standards in our 123 agreements in that region.

Are there any circumstances that you would support the United States giving up its moratorium on nuclear testing?

I feel that country ownership is one of the most effective means of sustainable democracy and human rights.

If confirmed as Legal Adviser, it would be my privilege to support the Department's ongoing efforts to promote human rights and democracy.

I recognize the important efforts within the State Department to promote a workforce that reflects the diversity of the American people.