Jeanne Shaheen

It is hamstringing Americans' interests in China, for example, where we have a number of Americans who are being held hostage.

There is strong bipartisan concern about what Russia might be thinking about with respect to Ukraine.

Belarus, now that it seems to be totally within Russia's control, also presents another front for the potential for Russia to invade Ukraine.

We could be doing in this Congress that would further show support for Ukraine.

I come to the floor today to discuss what are, sadly, the harmful impacts of ongoing partisan obstruction in the Senate. Earlier today, at the Small Business Committee, our colleague, Senator Cardin, who is chair of the Senate Committee on…

I share your view that we have got to continue to find a way to get humanitarian aid to help the Afghan people.

I think there is also a role for the United States through its diplomacy to collaborate with other countries that have influence over the Taliban.

What is happening to women and girls there is a critical concern for, I think, probably all Americans.

Oh, I could not agree more. It should send a real warning signal to Germany on Nord Stream 2 as well.

Thank you all very much for your insights and we look forward to seeing the Black Sea strategy from the Administration sometime very soon.

The current approach is not working.

I worry if we continue to hold that out and we are not able to make that happen... that undermines our efforts in both of those countries.

If we do not come in hard on this and united, U.S. and Europe, including European Union--if we do not do that then we are going to see a lot of this in the winter to come.

Well, thank you. I know we are coming to an end of the hearing, but I wanted to follow up a little bit on Senator Johnson's question.

I think it is probably worth the U.S. investment just from--again, where we can provide stability it is just so much cheaper to keep a nation or a region stable as opposed to having to deal with a big mess.

NATO's open-door policy is really--the open-door phrase has become a destabilizing bromide.

I think it is a concern we should watch, but it is a manageable concern.

We ought to be sharing, providing more lethal military assistance to Ukraine and Georgia.

They have come a remarkable way and they have done it in the face of Russian aggression.

I want to move to NATO expansion. I, certainly, support Georgia and Ukraine's aspirations for MAP for NATO.

I think this is something Turkey might actually welcome because they are often the target of Russian aggression.

In order to lead, we must be strong.

The opportunity for an effective strategy, I think, now is before us and all it needs is some strong American leadership.

The Black Sea is a hot spot for the competition between Russia and the West over expansion of the transatlantic community.

This is a very important topic and very timely, 'Black Sea Security: Reviving U.S. Policy Toward the Region.'