David Cicilline

By ceding our leadership role around the world so thoroughly, we will be giving Vladimir Putin the opening he has so desperately sought.

There is no doubt that Russia is seeking to expand its influence and reach throughout the Middle East.

When our country makes a mistake, we hold ourselves accountable to it and try to make sure we do it better next time.

Russia has blood on their hands in Syria as well as many other places.

It impacts the narrative or sends any type of message to the leaders of Russia, China, or other authoritarian-leaning governments when American media is excluded

Chinese and Russian media sources reliably and accurately report meetings or conversations between U.S. Government officials and their governments? Not likely.

An open and unrestricted press is a vital part of a transparent and accountable government

So my question is in light of that, after an unprecedented attack against our own elections, evidence of Russian attempts to hack and influence elections throughout Europe, as well as other mischief, how do you propose to adequately…

When can Congress expect a presentation of those plans?

And do you believe it is the purview of the United States Government to sell weapons to the very same security forces who committed this attack?

I assume you do not believe it is appropriate for a foreign security force to assault Americans on American soil?

We sell out the victims of human trafficking when we misappropriate a tierage, Tier 3 being the worst and say you are okay when they are not.

There is a window of opportunity with South Sudan and Salva Kiir and his leadership to really put pressure on them to end this conflict.

We have to make sure that that food does not diminish. It needs to actually be increased.

We were told by the UNHCR's Regional Representative that the trigger was the 30 percent in the World Food Programme provisions.

The devastating cuts proposed in this budget would make it nearly impossible for America to lead the world

But will you here today in this hearing, condemn the torture and murder of gay men in Chechnya and state that is the policy of the United States Government at the highest levels that the Russian Government must protect the lives and safety…

The Trump administration's handling of this serious situation has been ham-fisted and confounding.

The importance of legislative oversight cannot be overstated. It is a fundamental check and balance, key to the public's confidence in government, and it cannot be overstated.

The attacks carried about by President Erdogan's so called security detail against American citizens and legal residents were absolutely appalling and will not be tolerated.

This type of language and the concerted campaign against the gay men of Chechnya is an atrocity that must be condemned in the strongest terms by the international community.

I regret that I have to, once again, register my profound disappointment that it is now almost June and this committee still has not considered a single piece of legislation to respond to the unprecedented attack leveled against us by…

I want to thank you and the ranking member for holding this markup today to consider five important bipartisan pieces of legislation, which I am proud to support.

I really want to thank her for that.

I too want to thank you for your longtime commitment to Africa and the great leadership you have provided.