Rob Portman

Your blanket statement that there are no lost children is simply inaccurate.

The welfare of the child is the responsibility of the sponsor.

The number one responsibility for ensuring that the child attends the hearing is the sponsor.

We think you have that responsibility, but if you do not, I assume you want Congress to give you that authority; is that correct?

We believe Congress has given you that authority, and by the way, if you do not, who does?

I think you have made the case well that we need some reforms, and some of the numbers you just gave us are shocking.

The solution here, the problem is the people that we are incentivizing to come to this country, and the conditions are horrific on that journey.

A sustained commitment from us, from our partners in the region, and from the governments in the Northern Triangle to improve the lives of the citizens of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador is the smart way--and I think the right way--to…

Yesterday, Senator Carper and I released a report on the problems the Subcommittee has identified with the UAC program.

I am disappointed the Departments did not take the opportunity in this JCO to address some of the problems we have all observed for years and I think are widely acknowledged.

Right now, the best information we have is that about 50 percent of these children do not show up for their immigration court proceedings.

Unfortunately, we have seen examples of children placed with sponsors being trafficked.

We want to ensure they are treated appropriately and that they make it to their immigration court proceedings.

I would think that every single member of this panel agrees that our broader immigration system is broken.

This hearing presents a great opportunity to examine current issues related to tax administration at the IRS.

I look forward to working with you to make the IRS the best agency it can be--an effective tax collector that operates efficiently while providing world-class taxpayer service and respecting taxpayer rights.

And with regard to the forms and simplification, so much of that does not require legislation. It requires the IRS focusing more on simplification.

I do support us having a better bilateral relationship with Russia.

I was really happy to read it. I know that many in our community in Ohio who follow this closely are pleased with it.

I commend you for last week releasing the $200 million in military assistance.

I believe, as I think you do, that a successful pro-Western Ukraine is not only critical to the region but I think it is the best antidote to Russian expansion in the region.

We discussed at your confirmation hearing in April the need for us to focus more on Central and Eastern Europe, specifically Ukraine.

I had hoped that you would say the Global Engagement Center because it is a tool you have.

We passed this legislation called the Enforce and Protect Act, also known as the Enforce Act, because we recognized the overcapacity problem.

The major problem--everybody seems to agree--is over-capacity, steel production in this world. And primarily that is China.