Chuck Schumer

I would say there is a unanimous acceptance of our enthusiastic support for what you are trying to do, sir.

We have to convince Americans that there will not be future waves of illegal immigrants in order to succeed with the present group that are both here and future people who might come.

The current broken system is bad for everyone, but particularly bad for undocumented immigrants who are here in this country.

The tone of this debate has led some to ask whether this is indeed the best time to be talking about fixing our broken immigration system.

I just want to, in the resumed hearing, ask unanimous consent to put Senator Leahy's statement in the record, to put letters of support for Judge Chin into the record, and acknowledge that the record will stay open for one week for other…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you so much. Mr. Conley, Senator Feingold and I will have the opportunity to question you first.

I have no doubt she will be an exceptional jurist for the Eastern District of Washington.

Judge Chin is also, not incidentally, a classic product of New York upbringing.

Senator Casey and Senator Brownback will describe their legislation currently under review by the Committee.

The threat of new sanctions will only serve to strengthen the President's hand as we pursue a diplomatic solution.

The Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, which Senator Brownback and I introduced last May, would allow State and local government pension funds to divest from companies that do more than $20 million in business with the Iranian energy sector.

We must not let up now.

I believe when it comes to Iran, we should never take the military option off the table, but I have long argued that economic sanctions are the preferred and probably the most effective way to choke Iran's nuclear ambitions.

I believe the Senate should do its part by providing the administration all the tools it needs to put pressure on the Iranian regime.

As tough of measures as possible that are efficacious. You don't want to do what the Bush administration did--this is my judgment, not yours--sounded tough and did very little. You want to really be tough, but I wouldn't back off any…

I guess I share the frustration expressed by my colleague, Senator Menendez. I don't trust the Iranians one bit.

I believe that when it comes to Iran, we should never take the military option off the table.

I intend to bring move forward in this Committee this month on comprehensive sanctions legislation.

I find it troubling that the administration is not looking at the same time to be supportive of the toughest sanctions possible.

I hope our legislation will complement and reinforce ongoing diplomatic efforts, and send a clear signal to Iran's leaders.

I worked really hard to try and persuade the previous administration to look at the Russians and the interconnection of the missiles in Eastern Europe and sanctions in Iran, got nowhere.

But it seems to me with gasoline, where there are not that many large refiners and sellers, and most of the large ones need a U.S. market, as well, that that is a place that has real possibilities.

I certainly think you need more, and certainly, I guess, you agree we need more and we should try to get you those, OK.

I am always looking for places where the United States, we can act unilaterally and have some real economic effect on Iran.