Bob Menendez

Do you believe that we should say to the Castro Regime that before there can be any deepening relationship all political prisoners must be released?

What bothers me is that they never talk about the Danilos Machados of the world.

Do you believe that the United States should insist that before there is any further deepening of this relationship that there be a call for free and independent elections?

It is the absence of democratic reform which is giving Russia all the opportunities to exploit the divisions in the Balkans.

The real critical thing I think more important than the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States is the normalization of relations between the Cuban Government and the Cuban people.

It seems to me that places in the world without hope for political participation, economic opportunity, or even the ability to provide basic safety for their citizens ultimately creates the intersection between the citizen security…

We have a lot more tools at our disposition that we can use in the multilateral development banks, having a strong TIP report, thinking about how we incentivize the technology either by allowing it to be free, as you suggested, in terms of…

It is my hope that these assessments can draw together a wide variety of stakeholders from international civil society organizations, local communities, law enforcement, and others to ensure that development bank projects work to combat…

The amendment that I got into law, which now denies a country who is in Tier 3 of trafficking any preferential access to the United States in terms of any trade agreement, is incredibly important, a powerful tool.

My experience in the Senate...is the fundamental difference is that one Senator committed to an idea or an ideal and willing to fight for it can create change.

My legislation requires TIP rankings to be contingent on concrete actions taken by a country in the preceding reporting period.

This is as important as this committee has dictated in a bipartisan way, which means that you cannot subvert its importance because you have economic reasons with a country.

I introduced legislation, bipartisan legislation, with Senator Rubio and Senator Kaine and Senator Gardner that makes sweeping reforms to restore the integrity to the Trafficking in Persons ranking process.

The president's recent Executive Order indefinitely suspending the resettlement of all Syrian refugees is particularly cruel and unconscionable.

I want to make just one other comment if I might, and that is, there are many reasons I was concerned about the President's executive order on immigration and refugees.

Our economy, though not perfect, has made tremendous strides since the financial crisis and ensuing Great Recession.

So we should tread lightly before we make major changes that create disruptions.

You treat with a soft velvet glove one of the most significant strategic challenges we have with Russia.

I am concerned that it will take the Congress, particularly the Senate, to help lead on these issues with Russia.

It appears as if the Obama administration is using Tehran talking points.

I appreciate that. North Korea is fitting and appropriate to be one of the first policy issues we have up because it is a real challenge to the national security of the United States and to critical allies.

I find this to be an unconscionable clampdown of information and a rejection of basic transparency and accountability standards that should seriously concern all Americans.

So changing Medicare from a commitment and an entitlement to vouchers that might hope to create affordability but do not guarantee it, that is a fundamental shift in the nature of how we take care of seniors in this country.

Are you willing to commit that we will not see increased costs or less coverage for seniors under a revision of Medicare as you might advocate or the President might pursue?

I think that that is a little disingenuous.