Bob Menendez

For four months the international community has watched in horror as Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have authorized their police and paramilitary groups to wield extreme force against their own citizens.

I appreciate Senator Cardin taking up a lot of the issues that are critical in the hemisphere.

Migration causes problems. In Venezuela, Mr. Chairman, the numbers will soon exceed Syria in the number of those that have been displaced.

We recently passed new tools under the global Magnitsky to use against human rights violators.

I will advocate for increased commitment to addressing corruption at all levels of government.

Failure to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law stand in the way of Kosovo's full democratization.

This highlighted for the people of Turkey the American commitment to justice and rule of law.

A firm whole-of-government response combining diplomatic, development, and military tools led to the restoration of legitimate Iraqi Governing Council authority over Najaf and Southern Iraq.

I drafted or spearheaded numerous critical statements against democratic backsliding in Belarus and Azerbaijan.

I partnered with the U.S. Helsinki Commission to shine the international spotlight on the mistreatment of Roma populations in Europe.

I crafted a tougher sanctions regime against the Belarusian Government for egregious human rights violations and anti-democratic practices.

Again, Day 1, in talking to the staff of the bureaus, I will include human rights as one of our core responsibilities to promote overseas.

Should we not be making a strategic, comprehensive effort in Central America to deal with some of the challenges that drive people to leave their countries?

We need to multi-lateralize our effort, though.

I think the resilience of our allies and of our alliance in NATO is terribly important to dealing with this.

And do you believe that Russia continues to attempt to undermine American democracy?

Do you believe the intelligence community's assessments that Russia interfered in the 2016 election?

It is the latest expression of something that I think the President does not quite understand, that those of you in the Foreign Service are committed to the advocacy of policy regardless of who sits in the office.

I think that would be my role, if confirmed, to do that.

Let me be clear: Unlike the President, I do not consider Russia a friend.

If confirmed, I intend to ensure robust implementation of the Golden Sentry and the Blue Lantern End Use Monitoring programs.

If confirmed, I will ensure the U.S. Government is actively working with partners to develop the capabilities and doctrine required to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.

I am not a critic of prosecution. On the contrary, I embrace it.

I appreciate your service and the harm that you put yourself in, in defense of the Nation.

If I am--if confirmed, it will be incumbent upon me, and I would push to ensure nonproliferation.