I am concerned about the administration's current policy or, rather, lack of consistent policy toward the negotiation of civil nuclear cooperation agreements.

The 'gold standard,' where nations forswear domestic ENR capabilities, was finalized under this administration with the completion of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

I wish to speak very briefly on the Toomey amendment. I know we have on the floor a bill that basically, let's face it, puts off for about 4 years reforms we put into the Flood Insurance Program. It is a $24 billion program. It is a very…

The absence of a consistent policy weakens our nuclear nonproliferation efforts, and sends a mixed message to those nations we seek to prevent from gaining or enhancing such capability.

I am a strong proponent of nuclear energy, and I come from a State that, generally speaking, strongly supports nuclear energy.

Why would we not in every single case begin with a strong definition of what our gold standard is?

Do the three of you believe that the administration does have a clearly articulated approach to the 123 agreements?

Would it be inappropriate for us to vote up or down if you violate the gold standard?

I do hope that, you know, as we move ahead, we will figure out a way to ensure that there is access to credit in an appropriate level, but at the same time we do not ourselves pursue policies just to keep up, if you will, that are very…

We have had some conversations about this in the past, I know in prior authorizations, but it would appear that as we look at ECAs around the world, especially those outside of the OECD, that there is, generally speaking, a race to the…

I think everybody on this committee just about has expressed strongly their concern about Russia's actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for having this hearing. I want to thank Mr. Blinken for his service to our country and his willingness to serve in this capacity.

It is very frustrating to get up every morning and to read the newspapers and to see what Russia is doing inside Ukraine.

We would come to their aid if certain provocations occurred there.

I think the administration has been long on making statements, you know, like a new era of power relations or a pivot, without much definition or policy to go behind that.

But if you suspend sanctions, which you can do, certainly the permanent lifting we have to vote on.

It is my strong desire that the person who fills this position is equally as independent and has the ability to share with us.

It will be your responsibility, if confirmed, to provide us the kind of information and work with us directly to help us create the best foreign policy for our Nation.

I was being spun. We have had a conversation about that and likely will have a conversation today about that.

This position I think, as most people know, is a very, very important position.

implementing the IMF quota reforms bolsters our leadership in the Fund and provides the United States with leverage to continue to preserve our national security and economic interests abroad.

I do look forward to hearing the administration's point of view on the situation there today and prospects for the future.

I hope that all the international players, the neighbors, and ourselves, are applying enough pressure on Salva Kiir to want to solve this.

We have invested, obviously, billions of dollars as a country, invested a lot of time, a lot of people have.

Is there any chance that is going to occur?