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WE CARE ABOUT MORE HERE THAN --
THAN PREPARING AN ENVIRONMENT
FOR GOOD-PAYING JOBS THAT PUT
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND CAN HELP
THEM JOIN THE MIDDLE CLASS?
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR AND SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM TEXAS.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I RISE TO TALK ABOUT A BILL THAT
I -- OH, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE IN A
QUORUM CALL AND I ASK THAT IT BE
LIFTED.
OBJECTION.
I RISE TO TALK
ABOUT A BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED
THIS MORNING BUT I'M TOLD THAT
IT DOESN'T HAVE A BILL NUMBER
YET, BUT THE BILL IS "THE
STRENGTHENING AND ENHANCING
CYBER SECURITY USING RESEARCH,
EDUCATION, AND TECHNOLOGY ACT,"
WHICH WE REFER TO AS THE SCURE
SCURE -- SECURE I.T. ACT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CYBER
SECURITY IS A THREAT TO OUR
COUNTRY AND WE NEED TO
STRENGTHEN OUR LAWS TO ASSURE
THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR
ASSETS, OUR COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS AND ALL OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS RUN
THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS.
WE ARE WORKING AS A GROUP,
SENATORS McCAIN, CHAMBLISS,
GRASSLEY, MURKOWSKI, COATS,
BURR, AND JOHNSON, OUR ORIGINAL
COSPONSORS.
MANY OF US ARE THE RANKING
MEMBERS ON THE RELEVANT
COMMITTEES THAT MUST DEAL WITH
CYBER SECURITY.
SENATOR McCAIN, THE LEAD
SPONSOR, IS, OF COURSE, THE
ARMED SERVICES RANKING MEMBER.
I AM THE RANKING MEMBER OF
SENATOR CHAMBLISS OF
INTELLIGENCE.
SENATOR GRASSLEY CERTAINTY CERTAINLY OF
JSH, AND SENATORJUDICIARY, AND SENATOR MURKOWSKI
IT IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT THAT
OUR COMMITTEES HAVE COME
TOGETHER WITH OUR RANK
MEMBERS -- AND WE HOPE VERY MUCH
TO GAIN SUPPORT FROM THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE AS WELL -- ON A
BILL THAT WE THINK CAN GET
THROUGH ALL OF CONGRESS AND BE
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.
BECAUSE THE -- THE PARTS OF OUR
BILL THAT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR
CYBER SECURITY IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE I THINK ACCEPTED IN THE
WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE
EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA.
FOR INSTANCE, OUR BILL WILL HELP
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CYBER
ATTACKS FROM NETWORK TO NETWORK
AND ACROSS THE INTERNET BY
REMOVING BARRIERS TO SHARING
INFORMATION ABOUT THREATS,
ATTACKS AND STRATEGIES FOR
IMPROVEMENT OF DEFENSES.
WE REMOVE THESE BARRIERS THROUGH
ADDRESSING THE ANTITRUST LAWS
THAT WOULD ALLOW COMPANIES THAT
ARE SHARING INFORMATION NOT TO
BE THREATENED WITH ANTITRUST
SUITS BECAUSE THIS IS A SECURITY
ISSUE, IT'S NOT A COMPETITIVE
ISSUE.
SECONDLY, WE WANT TO HAVE
LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE
WHO DISCLOSE CYBER THREAT
INFORMATION WITH THEIR PEERS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WOULD BE
IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST FOR US TO
DO AND WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS IT
IN LEGISLATION.
THE LIABILITY AND ANTITRUST
TO ALL
COMPANIES THAT WOULD SHARE
INFORMATION, NOT JUST THOSE THAT
SHARE WITH THE GOVERNMENT BUT
WHERE THEY CAN TALK TO EACH
OTHER, UNDERSTANDING EACH
OTHER'S SYSTEMS.
FURTHER, THE SECURITY I.T. ACT
WOULD --
THE SECURE I.T. ACT WOULD
PROVIDING ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION OR CYBER SECURITY
SERVICES TO FEDERAL AGENCIES
SHARE CYBER THREAT INFORMATION
RELATED TO THOSE CONTRACTS.
OF COURSE, WHEN THEY HAVE
CONTRACTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT,
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE VERY
IMPORTANT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE SHARING
OF INFORMATION ABOUT THREATS
THAT MIGHT JEOPARDIZE THE SYSTEM
SYSTEMS' SECURITY.
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL
DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR THE
TIMELY SHARING OF CLASSIFIED,
DECLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SECURE
TO
TRUSTED PARTIES.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE
OTHER BILLS OUT THERE THAT WILL
ADD ANOTHER NEW BUREAUCRACY,
ANOTHER LAYER OF REGULATION THAT
IS NOT NECESSARY AND BRINGS IN
ANOTHER AGENCY THAT WOULD
OVERLAY THE SECURITY AGENCIES
THAT ALREADY HAVE SYSTEMS IN
PLACE.
IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE
REGULATORY BODIES FOR CERTAIN
AREAS OF INTEREST TO HANDLE THE
CYBER SECURITY RATHER THAN
ANOTHER OVERLAY OF A NEW
DEPARTMENT.
I THINK, MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT
SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY
WHO ARE IN BUSINESS FEEL THAT
THEY ARE JUST OVERWHELMED WITH
DUPLICATIVE REGULATIONS AND
DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT THEY
HAVE TO REPORT TO.
WE WANT TO STREAMLINE WHO THEY
TO USE
EXISTING STRUCTURES AND EXISTING
REGULATORY AUTHORITIES TO DEAL
WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL COMPANY OR
INDUSTRY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE
TO GIVE THEM YET ANOTHER NEW
BUREAUCRACY THAT WOULD THEN HAVE
REGULATIONS IF THEY ARE DEEMED
TO BE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT'S WHEN IT BECOMES THE
REGULATORY THREAT.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE PRIVATE
SECTOR IS MORE AWARE OF
INDIVIDUAL SECURITY NEEDS,
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY --
BETTER EQUIPPED THAN THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TO SECURE ITS OWN NETWORK
WORKING WITH THE REGULATORS.
THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET, THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF AS
HAS HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY IN
PREVENTING ATTACKS ON FEDERAL
SYSTEMS, SO WE DO REQUIRE THAT
REPORTING OF FEDERAL
CONTRACTORS GO TO THE FEDERAL
SECURITY AGENCIES BUT WE DON'T
THINK THE FEDERAL AGENCIES BEING
IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING IS
NECESSARILY AN IMPROVEMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
FEDERAL INFORMATION SECURITY
MANAGEMENT ACT, WHICH IS THE
LAW, IS ACTUALLY UPDATED SO THAT
THE NEW FORMS OF CYBER THREATS
ARE ACCOMMODATED IN THIS FISMA,
FEDERAL INFORMATION SECURITY
MANAGEMENT ACT, AND TO STRENGTH
THAN WITH THE UPDATES.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO UPDATES THE
CRIMINAL CODE TO ADDRESS CYBER
CRIMES, STRENGTHENING PENALTIES,
IMPROVING THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE'S ABILITY TO PROSECUTE
THIS KIND OF CRIMINAL THAT WOULD
TAKE DOWN WHOLE SYSTEMS OF OUR
AND OUR BILL WILL PRIORITIZE
CYBER SECURITY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT SO WE CAN HARNESS
INNOVATION TO PROTECT OUR
COUNTRY AND OUR PRIVATE
INDUSTRIES FROM CYBER ATTACKS.
SO I AM VERY PLEASED THAT WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS
LEGISLATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT
HAVE COME OUT.
I BELIEVE THAT
IF WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH
NEGOTIATING, PERHAPS WE COULD
COME TO AN ACCOMMODATION WITH
THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED WITH OTHER SPONSORS,
BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT THE
BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS THAT WOULD
ASSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE
ANOTHER BIG FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY,
THAT WE DON'T OVERLAY THE
REGULATORS THAT ALREADY HAVE
EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA WITH NEW
REGULATORS THAT WE HAVE TO TRAIN
AND DEAL WITH.
WE THINK THE DEFENSE AGENCY, THE
NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES, THE
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, THE
C.I.A., ALL OF THESE AND WITH
THEIR CYBERSECURITY ASSETS
ALREADY IN PLACE ARE THE BETTER
PLACE TO PUT THE STRENGTH, NOT
REINVENTING THE WHEEL BUT BETTER
UTILIZING THE SYSTEMS THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I THINK THAT IT
IS TIME FOR OUR SENATE TO
ADDRESS CYBERSECURITY, I THINK
WE HAVE GOOD PROPOSALS OUT
PERHAPS WE CAN TAKE THE BEST OF
ALL OF THOSE PROPOSALS BUT I
THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT
APPROACH, AND SENATOR McCAIN,
SENATOR CHAMBLISS, SENATOR
GRASSLEY AND SENATOR MURKOWSKI
WERE KEY TO DRAFTING THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT I THINK WILL
GET THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
ACTUALLY PASS A BILL TO IMPROVE
OUR SYSTEMS AND TAKE IT TO THE
PRESIDENT FOR SIGNATURE.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, AND
FLOOR AND SUGGEST
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
CALL:
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE QUORUM CALL BE SUSPENDED
MORNING BUSINESS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I ALSO ASK THAT MORNING BUSINESS
EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL
TEN MINUTES, AND THAT I BE
ALLOWED TO ENGAGE IN A COLLOQUY
WITH THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
SENATOR GRAHAM AND SENATOR
HOEVEN AND SENATOR BLUMENTHAL
AND SENATOR SESSIONS AND I HAD A
VERY INTERESTING TRIP LAST WEEK
WHERE WE VISITED VARIOUS
COUNTRIES AND LEARNED A LOT AT
EACH ONE.
BUT THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE
ON THE FLOOR TODAY IS TO -- IS
TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THE RECENT
RELEASE, THANK GOD, OF
AMERICANS WHO WERE IN THE
AMERICAN EMBASSY AND WERE
SUBJECT TO TRIAL AND PROSECUTION
BY THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT.
IT WAS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE FROM
THE STANDPOINT THAT NO AMERICAN
CITIZEN SHOULD BE TREATED THAT
WAY, ESPECIALLY BY AN ALLY,
ISSUE
IN THAT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON RELATIONS
BETWEEN OUR COUNTRY AND
ISRAEL -- AND EGYPT.
AND EGYPT, AS MY FRIEND FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WELL KNOWS, IS
WORLD.
WHAT HAPPENS IN EGYPT AFFECTS
THE ENTIRE ARAB WORLD, AND OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH EGYPT IS ONE
THAT IS VITAL NOT JUST FOR EGYPT
BUT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERESTS ARE THAT THE REGION
REMAIN PEACEFUL AND THAT THERE
NOT BE CONFLICT AND ABROGATION
OF THE TREATY THAT WAS CONCLUDED
BETWEEN EGYPT AND ISRAEL AS A
RESULT OF THE CAMP DAVID
AGREEMENTS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT EGYPT IS IN A BIT
OF A TURMOIL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE -- MADAM PRESIDENT,
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
SENATOR HOEVEN BE ADDED TO THE
UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR A
COLLOQUY.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
SO THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE WERE FROM NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE AND THE
INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTE AND FREEDOM HOUSE,
UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO GO TO OUR
EMBASSY BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING
TO BE PROSECUTED UNDER THEN
EGYPTIAN LAW.
AND I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY SAYING
THAT OUR AMBASSADOR TO EGYPT,
ANN PATTERSON, MAY BE ONE OF
THE FINEST DIPLOMATS THAT THIS
NATION HAS PRODUCED.
THE MORE THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA AND I TRAVEL AND THE
MORE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE U.S.
AMBASSADORS THAT -- EMBASSIES
MEET AND HAVE --
HAVE -- HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND
TRAVEL WITH, THESE PEOPLE ARE
ENORMOUSLY GOOD.
AND WE ARE PROUD THAT THEY
REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES,
PARTICULARLY ANN PATTERSON.
SHE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY SINCE
THIS WHOLE CRISIS BEGAN, AND I
BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE
CREDIT FOR WHAT THE SUCCESS
OUTCOME AS FAR AS OUR AMERICAN
CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED CAN BE
DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO HER
DEDICATION, HER HARD WORK, HER
TIRELESS EFFORTS DAY AND NIGHT
ON BEHALF OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF
HER.
I'D LIKE TO ASK MY FRIEND FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WHAT HE THINKS
WAS THE REASONS WHY THE EGYPTIAN
GOVERNMENT CHANGED WHAT THEY HAD
PREVIOUSLY SAID WOULD BE
JUDICIAL PROSECUTION OF THESE
AMERICAN CITIZENS TO ALLOWING
LEAVE EGYPT AND RETURN
TO THE UNITED STATES, AS THEY
ARE ON THEIR WAY.
ONE, I'D LIKE TO
ADD MY GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION
OF AMBASSADOR PATTERSON, HER
WHOLE TEAM, THE WHOLE STATE
DEPARTMENT TEAM ON THE GROUND.
THEY THE DID A VERY GOOD JOB
MAKING THE CASE TO THE EGYPTIAN
GOVERNMENT BUT WE HAVE TO ALL
REALIZE THAT EGYPT IS IN
TRANSITION.
THEY'VE JUST HAD THEIR ELECTIONS
FOR THE LOWER HOUSE, THE
PARLIAMENT, THE UPPER HOUSE HAS
NOT BEEN SEATED YET AND THEY
HAVEN'T ELECTED A PRESIDENT.
THEY'VE GONE FROM A DICTATORSHIP
TO EMERGING DEMOCRACY AND THIS
CASE COMES ALONG, THE N.G.O.
PROSECUTIONS I THINK BOTH OF
US, ALL OF OUR DELEGATION,
THIS IS JUST OFFENSIVE.
THE I.R.I., N.D.I.,
ORGANIZATIONS FUNDED BY THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR THAT TRY TO HELP EMERGING
DEMOCRACIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THEY'VE BEEN IN EVERY COUNTRY,
HOT SPOT YOU COULD NAME AFTER
THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION
WORK AND THE
ACCUSATIONS WERE THAT THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN THESE
ORGANIZATIONS, SENATOR McCAIN
IS THE HEAD OF I.R.I., WERE
INVOLVED IN SPYING AND
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE FLOOR
AND SAY I FIND THE ACCUSATION
OFFENSIVE AND WITHOUT MERIT.
AND THE EGYPTIAN COWORKERS,
EGYPTIAN CITIZENS WORKING WITH
THE I.R.I. AND N.D.I. ARE STILL
IN CUSTODY IN EGYPT FACING
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS FOR
HELPING THESE FINE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE WILL NOT
TAKE OUR EYE OFF OF THAT, AND WE
WILL KEEP PUSHING TO MAKE SURE
WE GET THE RIGHT ANSWER.
BUT HOW DID THIS END?
WE KNOW HOW IT STARTED.
I THINK IT WAS A POLITICAL
EFFORT TO TALK ABOUT, TRY TO
JUSTIFY MUBARAK-ERA LAW THAT WAS
USED TO PRESS AND KEEP OUT OF
THE COUNTRY PEOPLE WHO WERE
HELPING TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
THE BRIGHT SPOTS OF
THIS ENGAGEMENT WAS THAT THE
ARMY, GENERAL TENTOWAY WAS AS
HELPFUL AS HE COULD BE GIVEN THE
FORMATION.
BUT WHEN WE ENGAGE THE MUSLIM
BROTHERHOOD, THE FREEDOM OF
JUSTICE PARTY, THE LARGEST BLOC
IN PARLIAMENT, SENATOR McCAIN
IN HIS FIRST ENGAGEMENT, THE
FIRST THING HE SAID TO THE
REPRESENTATIVE WAS THIS N.G.O.
SITUATION, HOW DAMAGING IT WAS
TO EGYPT-AMERICAN RELATIONSHIPS,
HOW UNFAIR IT WAS, HOW OUT OF
BOUND IT WAS IN TERMS OF THE
LAW.
AND THE RESPONSE WAS, FROM THIS
GROUP, THAT WE FIND THE N.G.O.
LAW UNACCEPTABLE, UNJUST.
AND WE'RE WANTING TO CHANGE IT.
AND ONCE THAT STATEMENT WAS MADE
PUBLICLY, IT ALLOWED THIS
MOMENTUM TO WITHDRAW OR LIFT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE TRAVEL BAN.
MAY STILL GO FORWARD,
BUT OUR PEOPLE ARE COMING HOME.
SO I THINK THE REASON THIS
HAPPENED WAS BECAUSE THE
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, THE DELEGATION,
EVERY ASPECT.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE
PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN EGYPT I
THINK UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF
THE U.S.-EGYPTIAN RELATIONSHIP
AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM FINALLY
MADE A WISE DECISION.
BUT TO THOSE LEFT BEHIND, WE'RE
CERTAINLY STANDING WITH YOU, AND
YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
THIS COULD HAVE ENDED THE
U.S. -- SENATOR McCAIN, LET ME
ASK YOU A QUESTION, SENATOR
HOEVEN BOTH.
IF THIS HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED,
IF THEY INSISTED ON PROSECUTING
AND HAVING THE AMERICAN CITIZENS
QUESTIONED, APPEAR IN CAGES
BEFORE AN EGYPTIAN COURT BASED
ON AN OUTLANDISH ACCUSATION,
WHAT KIND OF REACTION WOULD WE
HAVE HAD IN THE UNITED STATES
AND WHAT DAMAGE WOULD IT HAVE
DONE TO U.S.-EGYPTIAN
YOUR OPINION?
CANE AS THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
THERE WAS A
PENDING AMENDMENT TO CUT THE
$1.3 BILLION.
I WOULD FAMILY SIZE TO MY
COLLEAGUES THAT $1.3 BILLION WAS
A COMMITMENT MADE AT THE TIME OF
THE CAMP DAVID AGREEMENT WHICH
LED TO A PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
ISRAEL AND EGYPT WHICH IS IF
THAT AMENDMENT HAD BEEN ENACTED,
I AM CONFIDENT WOULD HAVE CAUSED
THE EGYPTIANS TO ABROGATE THE
PEACE TREATY WITH ISRAEL.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF ALL THAT,
I'M NOT SURE OF.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE TO MY
FRIEND -- AND I SEE SENATOR
HOEVEN HERE -- WE DID HAVE
MEETINGS WITH THE SPEAKER OF
THEIR PARLIAMENT AND HIS
WE DID HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE
CHAIRMAN OF THEIR COMMITTEE ON
HUMAN RIGHTS WHO HAPPENS TO BE
THE NEPHEW OF ANWAR SADAT, ONE
OF THE SIGNATORIES TO THE CAMP
THE SIGNATORY
ALONG WITH MENACHEM BAY --
BEGIN.
WE DID MEET WITH THE PH EUPL
BROTHERHOOD WHO DID AGREE WITH
US THAT N.G.O.'S ARE IMPORTANT
AND THE LAW NEEDED TO BE REVISED
MUCH WE MET WITH THE HEAD OF THE
INTERIM MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
WHAT CONFUSED US A BIT AT FIRST,
I'D ASK MY COLLEAGUE FROM NORTH
DAKOTA, IS EVERYBODY SAID WE'RE
WITH YOU, AND YET THEY WERE
GRIDLOCKED.
IN THE WORDS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE JOINT CHIEF STAFF WHO HAD
BEEN THROEFR EARLIER, THEY
WERE -- OVER THERE EARLIER, THEY
WERE PARALYZED.
IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THE
STATEMENT OF THE MUSLIM
BROTHERHOOD, WHO ALL OF US, I
KNOW, HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, BUT
IT WAS THE STATEMENT OF THE
MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SUPPORTING
N.G.O., SUPPORTING REVISION OF
THE MUBARAK LAW THAT SEEMED TO
BE A MAJOR FACTOR IN STICKING
WHAT HAD CLEARLY BEEN A
SITUATION WHICH DAY BY DAY GREW
MORE AND MORE OF A CRISIS.
I'D ASK MY FRIEND FROM NORTH
IMPRESSION.
I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA FOR
ALLOWING ME TO JOIN HIM ON THE
FLOOR TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT HAS
HAD A FAVORABLE OUTCOME.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY GREAT APPRECIATION
AND GRATITUDE TO SENATOR
McCAIN AND SENATOR GRAHAM FOR
REALLY ORGANIZING THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GO OVER TO
EGYPT AND TO NOT ONLY MEET WITH
OUR N.G.O. WORKERS AT THE U.S.
EMBASSY, BUT TO ENGAGE IN
CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS WITH
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS
ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
TANNED'S NOT JUST -- AND IT'S
NOT JUST THESE SEVEN AMERICANS
WHO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
AND THEIR SAFETY, WHICH
OBVIOUSLY IS PARAMOUNT, BUT AS
SENATOR GRAHAM INDICATED, THIS
CLEARLY HAD
RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE
RELATIONSHIP ON A LONGER-TERM
BASIS BETWEEN EGYPT AND THE
UNITED STATES AND EGYPT AND
ISRAEL, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD
TO THE PEACE TREATY.
SO TAKING THIS INITIATIVE TO SIT
DOWN WITH GENERAL -- MARSHAL
TANTA W EU, WHO IS THE LEADER OF
THE MILITARY COUNCIL, BUT ALSO
THE LEADERS OF THE FREEDOM AND
JUSTICE PARTY, WHICH IS THE
MAJORITY PARTY NOW IN THE
PARLIAMENT, AND OF COURSE THAT
IS THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE MUSLIM
BROTHERHOOD AS WELL.
I THINK THOSE MEETINGS WERE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN HELPING
TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING THAT
BROKE THE LOGJAM.
I TOO WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK
OF OUR AMBASSADOR, AMBASSADOR
ANN PATERSON.
SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
I WANT TO THANK SECRETARY
CLINTON AND THE PEOPLE AT THE
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR
DILIGENT EFFORTS.
BUT I MUST SAY HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF A
DELEGATION LED BY SENATOR
McCAIN AND SENATOR GRAHAM GAVE
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO
THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, GAVE US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE
LEADERS OF THE FREEDOM AND
AND THE NEXT DAY THEY PUT OUT A
STATEMENT, WHICH I AGREE WAS
VERY IMPORTANT IN HELPING MOVE
THINGS FORWARD, BECAUSE WHAT
THEY SAID IN THAT STATEMENT WERE
TWO THINGS, TWO THINGS THAT I DO
THINK HELPED BREAK THE LOGJAM.
FIRST, THAT THEY SUPPORT
NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY SUPPORT NONGOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THESE
N.G.O.'S DO IMPORTANT WORK, AND
THEY WANT TO ADDRESS THE LAWS IN
EGYPT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
HAVE GOOD LAWS THAT WILL ENABLE
THE N.G.O.'S TO CONTINUE.
THE SECOND THING THEY SAID,
WHICH I FELT WAS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT IS THEY ALSO EXPRESSED
ABOUT N.G.O.
WORKERS AND THAT THOSE N.G.O.
WORKERS BE TREATED FAIRLY.
AND FOR ME, AS SENATOR McCAIN
SAID, I HAIL FROM THE STATE OF
NORTH DAKOTA -- AND HE KNOWS I'M
GOING TO SAY THIS.
I CAN SEE THE SMILE SNEAKING UP
ON HIS FACE ALREADY.
ONE OF THESE N.G.O. WORKERS, ONE
OF THE AMERICANS DETAINED UNDER
THE TRAVEL BAN, WHO I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH AT THE
HODGE.
SHE'S BEEN OVER THERE WORKING.
AND NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS
WORRIED ABOUT ALL OF OUR
I WAS REALLY WORRIED ABOUT STACY
AND MAKING SURE THAT SHE AND HER
FELLOW WORKERS AND, OF COURSE,
SECRETARY LaHOOD'S SON, SAM
LaHOOD AND ALL OF THEM, THAT
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HOME
I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT IN
TERMS OF FOSTERING AN
UNDERSTANDING THAT I HOPE NOW
WILL CONTINUE AS WE WORK TO
BUILD RELATIONS WITH EGYPT AND
THEIR NEW GOVERNMENT.
I YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA.
I CAN TELL YOU
VERY FEW PEOPLE IN EGYPT WERE --
ALMOST NO ONE IN EGYPT DID NOT
REALIZE SOMEBODY FROM NORTH
DAKOTA WAS BEING HELD.
YOU WERE ON MESSAGE.
YOU WERE VERY EFFECTIVE.
AND I HOPE STACY AND HER FAMILY
APPRECIATES IT.
I KNOW THEY DO.
BUT FOR EVERYBODY -- SAM, THE
N.D.I. WORKERS, THE WHOLE GANG,
WE'RE PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO.
SENATOR BLUMENTHAL IS HERE.
I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS
IS A BIPARTISAN DELEGATION.
WE HAD A DINNER MEETING WHEN
THINGS WERE NOT GOING SO WELL,
AND ABOUT THE IDEA OF BRINGING
OUR AMERICAN CITIZENS DOWN TO
EGYPTIAN COURT TO BE PUT AT RISK
SECURITYWISE AND MAYBE TO BE PUT
BEHIND CAGES, WHICH WOULD HAVE
DESTROYED THE RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK SENATOR BLUMENTHAL MADE
IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, THAT'S NOT A
GOOD IDEA.
AND THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK TO
SENATOR McCAIN.
I AGREE WITH MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA,
SENATOR BLUMENTHAL WAS VERY
IMPORTANT, ONE, FOR
BIPARTISANSHIP.
BUT HIS BACKGROUND AS A
PROSECUTOR AT ONE POINT IN ALL
THIS BACK AND FORTH, ONE OF THE
LAWYERS, WILL BE UNNAMED, SAID
TO SENATOR BLUMENTHAL THAT,
WELL, WE PROBABLY HAVE TO GO
LAWYERS.
SENATOR BLUMENTHAL, IN A VERY
SUCCINCT WAY SAID, WELL, MAYBE
IT'S TIME TO FIRE THE LAWYERS.
I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
BLUMENTHAL FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT
AND THE EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE
THAT HE BROUGHT TO THIS WHOLE
SCENARIO BECAUSE HIS BACKGROUND
AS A PROSECUTOR AND ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF HIS STATE.
I GUESS I WONDER FROM MY FRIEND
FROM CONNECTICUT IF HE BELIEVES
THAT THIS KIND OF THING IS
WE SHOULD REALLY
BE EMPHASIZING, THESE N.G.O.'S
SO THAT MAYBE WE CAN PREVENT
THIS IN THE FUTURE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE VISITED
TUNESIA, THE TUNESIANS ENACTED A
LAW THAT ENCOURAGES
PARTICIPATION OF THESE DEDICATED
MEN AND WOMEN WHO COME AND LIVE
AND WORK IN THEIR COUNTRY AND
HELP THEM BUILD DEMOCRACY.
THAT WAS WHAT WAS SO NOT
ENRAGING, BUT CERTAINLY WAS SO
FRUSTRATING, WAS TO HEAR THESE
PEOPLE WHO WERE ONLY TRYING TO
BUILD DEMOCRACY.
THEY WEREN'T THERE TO MAKE
THEY WEREN'T CONTRACTORS.
THEY WEREN'T ANYBODY THAT WAS IN
THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP
THEM BUILD DEMOCRACY, AND THEY
END UP IN THE SITUATION THEY
WERE IN, WHICH CAUSED US FROM
TIME TO TIME TO MAYBE GRIT OUR
TEETH, SKILLED MY FRIEND FROM
THANK YOU TO
MY COLLEAGUE FROM ARIZONA WHO
LED THIS TRIP AND VERY
ENTHUSIASTICALLY AND
EMPHATICALLY, I WOULD SAY THE
ANSWER IS, YES, WE SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGING THESE
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
TO THE CAUSE
OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
AND CIVIL SOCIETY, THEIR WORK IN
EGYPT AND IN PLACES LIKE TUNESIA
AND OTHER AREAS OF THE MIDDLE
EAST AS WELL AS AROUND THE GLOBE
WHERE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM ARE
AT RISK AND SOMETIMES AT GRAVE
PERIL HAS BEEN ENORMOUSLY
IMPORTANT.
I WAS SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL TO
BE PART OF THIS TRIP LED BY
SENATOR McCAIN AND TO REALLY
HEAR AND SEE THE KIND OF RESPECT
THAT THERE IS IN THE WORLD FOR
HIS VIEWS, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AS
WELL AS FOR SENATOR GRAHAM'S,
AND THE RECEPTIVENESS IS
PROBABLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT, THAT
FIELD MARSHAL TANTAWI, LEADERS
IN PARLIAMENT, OTHERS IN
LEADERSHIP HAD FOR HIS
STATEMENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF ALLOWING THESE AMERICANS,
THESE SEVEN AMERICANS WHO
COMMITTED NO CRIME, TO LEAVE
THAT COUNTRY.
AND THE POWER OF HIS AND SENATOR
GRAHAM'S STATEMENTS, THE ABILITY
OF OUR COLLEAGUES, SUCH AS
SENATOR HOEVEN AND SENATOR
SESSIONS, TO SPEAK NOT ON BEHALF
OF THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE WE
WERE NOT THERE TO NEGOTIATE, BUT
REALLY ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC
OPINION IN THE UNITED STATES, I
THINK WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL AND
SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
INTERCHANGES AND THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT CAN BE BUILT
WHEN WE INTERACT FACE-TO-FACE ON
THE GROUND WITH OUR PEERS AND
CONTEMPORARIES IN FOREIGN
COUNTRIES.
NOT THAT WE WERE SPEAKING AS
MILITARY PEOPLE OR AS DIPLOMATS,
BUT SIMPLY IN REFLECTING THE
OPINION OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED
THESE AMERICANS,
INNOCENT OF ANY CRIME, SHOULD BE
PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
DON'T YOU FIND IT
STRIKING THAT THESE NEW
PARLIAMENTARIANS, THEY WERE MOST
EAGER TO HAVE INTERPARLIAMENTARY
ASSOCIATION WITH US?
THEY WANTED TO COME TO THE
UNITED STATES TO HAVE FURTHER
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
ELECTED BODIES.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THAT.
I WOULD SAY
YES, INDEED, I WAS
EXTRAORDINARILY IMPRESSED BY
THEIR EAGERNESS TO SEE WHAT
DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE AS IT
REALLY WORKS.
REMEMBER, SOME OF THESE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN IN PRISON
FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
SOME OF THEM UNDER THE MOST
BRUTAL CONDITIONS, MANY OF THEM
TORTURED WHILE THEY WERE THERE,
WITH LITTLE EXPOSURE TO THE REAL
WORLD OF DEMOCRACY.
I THINK IN ANSWER TO THE SENATOR
FROM ARIZONA'S QUESTION WOULD BE
TO THEM.
AND IN FACT ON A NUMBER OF
OCCASIONS, WE INVITED THEM TO
COME TO THIS COUNTRY.
BUT I WOULD ASK THE SENATOR FROM
ARIZONA AND PERHAPS MY OTHER
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ON THE FLOOR
TODAY TO LOOK AHEAD AND TO
COMMENT PERHAPS ON WHAT WE CAN
DO TO MOVE IN A POSITIVE WAY
FROM HERE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT
ALL OF US FEEL EGYPT IS REALLY A
LINCHPIN FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP TO
THAT AREA OF THE WORLD GOING
FORWARD.
SO MUCH THAT'S EXCITING IS
HAPPENING IN THAT PART OF THE
WORLD, AND EGYPT IS SO CRITICAL
TO IT, SO I WOULD ASK MY FRIENDS
FROM ARIZONA AND SOUTH CAROLINA
AND NORTH DAKOTA WHAT THEY FEEL
PERHAPS ARE POSITIVE STEPS THAT
WE CAN TAKE TO BUILD ON THIS
GOOD STEP FORWARD.
VERY BRIEFLY,
BEFORE I TURN TO MY OTHER TWO
COLLEAGUES, THE DAY WE ARRIVED
IN EGYPT, THERE WAS A SUPPLIERS'
CONFERENCE, COMPANIES AND
CORPORATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD RANGING FROM COMPANIES
LIKE GENERAL ELECTRIC, BOEING,
THE MAJOR CORPORATIONS, AND IT'S
VERY CLEAR, THE ONE THING THIS
-- THE ONE THING THAT THEY NEED
JOBS.
UNLESS THEIR ECONOMY IMPROVES
AND--THE TOURISM HAS COLLAPSED DID, I
THINK THEY'RE GOING TO FACE SOME
VERY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.
SO AT LEAST I WAS VERY HAPPY TO
SEE LOT OF AMERICAN
PARTICIPATION IN THAT GATHERING.
I THINK THEY SAID THERE WAS LIKE
600 PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM, ALL OF
THEM REPRESENTING VARIOUS
BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT REALLY IS -- AND OF COURSE
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING A HARD
CURRENCY CRUNCH RIGHT NOW THAT'S
VERY SIGNIFICANT.
I THINK IT'S A
VERY GOOD TOPIC TO BE TALKING
ABOUT THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE THIS WAS AN EPISODE THAT
COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE
RELATIONSHIP BEFORE IT HAD A
CHANCE TO MATURE.
WHAT AM I CONCERNED ABOUT?
I AM STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE
DEVELOPMENT IN EGYPT.
THE CONSTITUTION WILL BE WRITTEN
THE SUMMER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
AMERICA'S VOICE IS HEARD ABOUT
WHO WE ARE.
WE HOPE THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE
EMBRACE TOLERANCE.
THE COP COPTIC CHRISTIANS ARE GOING
TO BE WELCOMED, AES THEY HAVE
BEEN FOR CENTURIES, THAT WOMEN
WILL NOT BE TAKEN BACK INTO THE
DARKNESS, THAT THE CONSTITUTION
WILL REFLECT AN ISLAMIC NATION
THAT UNDERSTANDS THE CONCEPT OF
TOLERANCE AND FREE ENTERPRISE.
SO THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD WILL
POLITICALLY.
IT IS UP TO THEM TO CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE WORLD
FEELS WELCOME.
IT IS UP TO THEM TO CREATE AN
ECONOMY, WORKING WITH THEIR
COALITION PARTNERS.
SO WE'LL BE WATCHING.
AND IT IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY IN
POLITICS, IT'S WHAT YOU DO.
THAT TO ALL OF US HERE.
I THINK WE'RE FAILING OUR PEOPLE
BACK IN THE UNITED STATES BY
TALKING WAY TOO MUCH AND DOING
TOO LITTLE.
BUT THE SUMMER -- BETWEEN NOWED
AND THE SUMMER -- BETWEEN NOW
AND THE SUMMER CAN REALLY
DETERMINE THE OUTCOME FOR
DECADES IN EGYPT.
SO I AM URGING THE EGYPTIAN
LEADERSHIP TO CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN
COME TO VISIT EGYPT AND DO
SENATOR McCAMPAIGN IS DEAD ON.
THERE'S LOT OF MONEY TO BE MADE
PEOPLE.
THEY ARE A PROUD AND SMART
ON THE GROUND.
I WANT TO HELP THE EGYPTIAN
ECONOMY DEVELOP THROUGH THE
PUBLIC SECTOR.
I AM THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
WORKING WITH SENATOR LEAHY, THE
WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE
ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE, BUT THE END
GAME IS TO CREATE A FUNCTIONING
SOCIETY THAT WE CAN DO BUSINESS
WITH, WHERE WE CAN CREATE JOBS
IN AMERICA.
THE MAIN THING TO DO IN THE
SHORT TERM IS TO MAINTAIN THE
MILITARY RELATIONSHIP.
THE REASON EGYPT DID NOT BECOME
SYRIA WHEN YOU HAD PEOPLE RISING
UP AGAINST THE ROT OWE CRATEIC
-- AGAINST THE AUTOCRATIC REGIME
IS BECAUSE THE ARMY STOOD UP
AGAINST THE PEOPLE.
THE RELATIONSHIP WE'VE HAD WITH
THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE FOR OVER 30
YEARS PAID DIVIDENDS.
THE EGYPTIAN OFFICERS COMING TO
AMERICAN MILITARY ACADEMIES AND
SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AS
WE GO FORWARD.
HONOR THE TREATY WITH ISRAEL,
MAKE SURE YOU WRITE A
CONSTITUTION WORTHY OF A BRIGHT
FUTURE IN EGYPT, AND TO ALL THE
POLITICAL LEADERS IN EGYPT, THE
WORLD IS WATCHING, THE ARAB
WORLD IS WATCHING, AND IF YOU
HAVE A NARROW AGENDA, IF YOU
HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE AGENDA, THEN
YOU WILL BE DOING YOUR COUNTRY A
SO WE WILL BE A WILLING PARTNER
BUT NOT UNDER ANY AND ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES.
MAYBE WE'VE LEARNED OUR LESS SON
THAT YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE
PRINCIPLES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THE EGYPS PARLIAMENT AND PEOPLE,
TO
CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY.
DON'T LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I WOULD ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS OF THE GOOD SENATOR
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND I GUESS
WHAT I'D LIKE TO ADD -- I THINK
THAT'S EXACTLY THE RIGHT
QUESTION TO POSE.
THE SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT
SAYS WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
I THINK THAT'S RIGHT ON.
THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND
THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT
SENATOR McCAIN AND SENATOR
GRAHAM HAVE BUILT OVERSEAS MADE
A DIFFERENCE FOR THE UNITED
STATES AND OUR FOREIGN POLICY.
IT.
WHEN WE SAT DOWN WITH FIELD
MARSHAL TANTAWI, WHEN WE MET
WITH THE OTHER GOVERNMENT
LEADERS, EVEN WHEN WE MET WITH
THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, THE FACT
THAT THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP
THERE, THAT THEY KNEW THESE
INDIVIDUALS, THERE WAS SOME
LEVEL OF TRUST THERE THAT
ENABLED US TO ENGAGE IN VERY
IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION THAT
PRODUCED A MESSAGE THAT I THINK
WAS INTEGRAL TO RESOLUTION OF
THIS SITUATION WHICH COULD HAVE
BEEN A VERY BAD ONE.
SO THIS -- THESE RELATIONSHIPS
MATTER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
WORKING WITH OTHER COUNTRIES,
PARTICULARLY IN THAT PART OF THE
WORLD WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR
COUNTRIES AND HOW WE OPERATE,
HAVING SOME RELATIONSHIPS WHERE
PEOPLE CAN SIT DOWN, HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS AND TALK ABOUT HOW
WE WORK TOGETHER AND FOSTER SOME
MUTUAL AGREEMENT AND SOME MUTUAL
UNDERSTANDING IS VITALLY
AT THE MEETING WITH THE FREEDOM
AND JUSTICE PARTY PARLIAMENTARY
MEMBERS, WE INVITED THIS EMTO
COME VISIT US -- THEM TO COME
VISIT US.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY
HELP FLED AND VERY IMPORTANT,
NOT JUST SO THESE NEW LEADERS
AND THEIR PARLIAMENT HAVE A
BETTER SENSE OF THE UNITED
STATES AND HOW WE WORK AND THE
KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE
CAN FOSTER IN BOTH BUSINESS AND
GOVERNMENT, BUT SO THAT THE
MEMBERS OF THIS SENATE, OF THIS
CONGRESS AND OUR PEOPLE HERE GET
A BETTER SENSE OF THEM AS WELL.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT
AS WE TRACK FORWARD WITH THIS
NEW, YOUNG GOVERNMENT THAT IS
NOW EMBARKING ON WRITING A
CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNING IN A
VITALLY IMPORTANT COUNTRY IN THE
MIDDLE EAST.
AND I AT THIS POINT WOULD LIKE
TO TURN THINGS BACK TO THE GOOD
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA, WITH MY
SINCERE GRATITUDE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO
THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND DEAR
IT WAS AN EXCITING TRIP AND A
VERY INTERESTING WURNTION AND