Political Quotes

“The issues that were expressed in Senator Durbin's resolution had been issues before the committee on the issue of Belarus. As a matter of fact, even today, the nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador has been discussed. So that issue has been discussed. Unfortunately, although I think it has merit, the issue of religious freedom, as you have defined in your resolution, has not. So at least the substance of the issue has been the possibility of the debate. I would simply say that I know you are highlighting that one resolution. Yes, our colleague from Ohio, Senator Portman, brought to my attention the anniversary of Otto Warmbier, and it was happening before--and he said: I did not ask for it to come before the committee. I thought that it should, and it fell between the cracks. So we agreed. But that doesn't mean that everybody is going to come to the floor and not give the committee members the chance to work on resolutions and to have their views cast on that resolution for the full body to consider.”