Mike Rounds

I think the most recent conversations that have been going on here, I think, are getting to the heart of something that we should discuss in more detail with regards to those countries who we would love to have join the group of…

I am concerned that if we take actions that would hurt equity markets, the collateral damage will spread way beyond Wall Street.

I think we need to explore that a little bit and lay this out.

I really think we run the threat of taking away the ability of the equity markets to make good investments for their investors.

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about this hearing is, quote-unquote, who Wall Street really is.

We all agree that the economy is still in need of fiscal and monetary support.

I would first like to ask about the SLR exclusion which is set to expire on March 31st.

Too many of the approvals are made by people who work to make sure that the veteran stays within the VA system, regardless of whether or not it is good for the veteran or not.

The MISSION Act, which is what we operate under now for our health care, is an item that I did not vote for.

When you promise everything to everybody and lay it within an administration like this, whether it is a Republican or a Democrat administration, the challenges of handling a bureaucracy are huge.

It is truly refreshing to see that we have a Chairman and a Ranking Member who are both concerned about our rural veterans.

I have been to the Sahrawi people's refugee camps twice. I was impressed by their strong desire for independence.

This is an important moment for the United States to take a leadership role in that area, and so many others.

Somalia's successful revolution, socially, politically and economically, is vital for our interests in the region.

What are the reasonable benchmarks the United States should expect with regard to Somalia's democratic development?

I am very pleased to see such a qualified panel of nominees before us today.

As you know, Somalia is wracked by a political crisis over the September 17th agreement.

We have shared values, and we need to point out to the peoples of the region the shared values that we have, and the difference between what we consider important and what the real costs of the engagement that the malign actors from…

I think sometimes their offer of assistance to a contrary is seen as a first step in where, later on, they will start asking for small favors and then move into more demands.

Algeria has supported the political process led by the U.N. and by the U.N. Secretary General's personal envoy for Western Sahara.

If we keep up business as usual we will give China a free pass to use that leverage to export its model of authoritarianism.

I am concerned about, I guess, the ongoing and, in some cases, increasing Chinese and Russian engagement in the Western Hemisphere.

I do think they're going to have to work that out in very short order.

Vice President Biden should have access to those classified reports.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 9:17 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at 10 a.m…