Tim Scott

Russia's strategy to escalate to dominate is something this committee has heard about over the last 3 weeks several time.

Should we be concerned about Russia implementing its 'escalate to dominate' strategy in Syria and threatening the use of low-yield nuclear weapons to ensure the survival of the Assad regime?

Ties between Russia and Turkey, a member of NATO, appear to be growing and solidifying.

I think it would be too easy for the United States to find itself stretched, distracted, and ultimately focused on the wrong issue.

Syria is Russia's only remaining ally in the Arab world and it is clear to me that Putin and Russia are investing a great deal in Syria and the Assad regime's survival.

I am concerned about this role that Russia plays in northern Syria and how it impacts all of our relationships and especially the relationship between us and Turkey.

These Russian and Chinese efforts are self-interested as these countries are doing very little to counter the myriad of terrorist threats across the region.

The National Defense Strategy describes the greatest threat to U.S. prosperity and security as a reemergence of long-term strategic competition by revisionist powers.

Russia's violated the Open Skies Treaty, refused to implement the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty.

What used to be a very secular Turkey is moved in the direction of becoming a more religious Turkey.

To ensure American dominance in all areas, we must innovate faster and bring new capabilities like hypersonic weapons, directed energy, and advanced unmanned aircraft to the field sooner.

I think South Carolina is the epicenter of training and readiness of our military.

We will, with today's defensive systems, not see these things coming.

It is no secret that our nation and our military are facing competition from both Russia and China.

Certainly, I look forward to having that conversation with you perhaps at another time.

What do you plan to do this year to empower and encourage States to invest in this space of wellness programs so that we can attempt to get control of future costs, perhaps before they happen?

I appreciate your responsiveness and I hope I can count on the same level of responsiveness as we work with you on Kroll Bond Rating Agency's inclusion in the IFC's investor guidelines.

Not Congress, not you, but the district court now requires a cost benefit analysis, which I support.

There should be clarity around what gets you labeled as a SIFI and what gets you off of being designated.

Somewhere around 8 out of 10 employees will see more money in their take-home pay. That is significant progress for folks who are living paycheck to paycheck.

Thank you for your hard work on the tax reform package. You have helped to accomplish something that has not been done in over 30 years.

The President promised to help exactly these people, who now are being threatened with dramatic cuts in their pensions.

We have made a choice. We have made an economic choice and we have made an economic gamble.

Would you say that we have done our best to strike a proper balance between our economic concerns and our national security concerns within the bill?

Thank you to Senator Cornyn for being here this morning and his testimony and his continued efforts on this very important issue.