Bob Menendez

So we have--your words--an improving trend, but we do not have what we need.

I hope we do not go down that road, because then I, for one, will lead a charge, as much as I am the biggest supporter, and have been for 23 years, of our democracy programs.

You have got a country that just accepted--it was in the midst of receiving another shipment of arms, in violation of international law, that was probably headed for the FARC.

The approach that the administration has taken to restart diplomatic relations with Cuba is in no way a reward for any perceived good behavior.

So, even though Cuba is a Tier 3, one of the worst traffickers--Voyeur magazine had, a couple of years ago, 'the sexual hotspot of the world'--even though, in fact, it is a Tier 3, we are in the midst of giving them a series of concessions…

The U.S. Government's principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking.

But, we have used economic engagement, and other countries have not moved off the list as a result of economic engagement.

Do you believe that we should be fast-tracking countries that have the worst record, under our own reports, in terms of human trafficking?

Mr. Chairman, if I may, just for a moment, I have an amendment that is pending in the Finance Committee which I have to go attend to.

There has been some discussion in this Committee about whether the private sector can fill in the gaps where Government has fallen short.

At some point all the efficiencies, all the cost savings, and all the reforms are simply not enough to make up for a lack of investment.

If we want the types of private sector partnerships we will be hearing about today to work, we need to step up as well.

We need to invest more.

I do not see how that can be a viable replacement for adequate public sector funding.

If we want to have safe system, we want to have reliable systems, and a country that is competitive, we have to make these investments.

It goes to the question, and there are, I am sure, other parts of the country like this, in which projects of national significance have a real consequence

While innovative financing solutions and public-private partnerships can play a role in building the best transit systems possible, they are not a replacement for public sector funding.

If you wear it, if you drive it, if you eat it, if you use it, it probably... comes through that area.

I think we always look to experience as an element of quality at the end of the day, and in this case, experience, to me, also equates to safety.

We have seen the consequences of under-investing in our infrastructure.

So if nothing changes in terms of how you approach it, nothing will change in terms of the results.

It seems to me that unless at the very top there is a clear message throughout the Department that diversity is important...

I hope you can do a lot better the next time you are here.

I look forward to seeing it.

The State Department has one of the worst records of diversity of all the Federal agencies.