Rob Portman

Your reliance on this Communications Decency Act section has not been accurate. It has been a fraud, frankly, on the courts, on the victims who have sued you, and on the public.

We as a civil society protect always the most vulnerable among us and not take advantage of them.

These individuals must be held accountable. These allegations must be given voice.

It is a crime that is rightly punishable by incarceration in prison because of the nature of the harm to the victims and the outrageousness of the conduct that is predatory in nature.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tells us that Backpage is linked to nearly three-quarters of all suspected child sex trafficking reports.

Backpage.com sits at the center of that online black market.

This crime has increasingly moved from the street to the smartphone.

We are here this morning to address a very serious topic. It is about sex trafficking. It is about selling children online.

I would ask today that you comment on that. As Under Secretary of State of Public Diplomacy, Public Affairs, you are going to play a key role in this.

Let me just interject quickly here with regard to Korea because I was concerned about that as well.

I do believe they are trying to destabilize democratic countries not just ours but around the world.

In the wake of what happened in New York yesterday, that tragedy once again, we realize that people are being radicalized even in this country.

My hope is as more Indian entrepreneurs develop their own intellectual property, there will be a greater interest in the protections of it.

Ultimately I would hope that the Indian community would see the economic relationship as a strategic asset.

I think there are something like 80 cases right now of abductions of American kids in India.

We need to continue pressing forward, make sure that India adheres to its WTO obligations.

It is important that there be some process for addressing and trying to resolve individual cases.

I cannot think of anything more heartbreaking than having a parent have their child abducted.

I am very eager to expand our relationship with India. I think it is a tremendous opportunity.

I think that is important. And I was glad to hear you talk about it in your testimony.

I told you my concern about State Department not seeking the funding to be able to effectively push back against authoritarian regimes.

Can you make a commitment today to us that you will indeed continue that focus of making sure that the Global Engagement Center works effectively?

It is a big job because he will be, if confirmed--and I feel confident that he will--the only U.S. Ambassador really in the region.

But despite your relationship with President Xi... they are tough negotiators.

Ben Cardin and I got legislation passed.