Foreign Affairs
"I welcome this announcement of new energy cooperation between Israel and Jordan, both of which share special bonds with the United States.
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the implementation of the First Step Agreement on Iran's nuclear program:
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
"I am deeply concerned by the recent violence in South Sudan.
"Throughout his life, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela met the purveyors of injustice, intolerance, and racism with an unyielding determination to forge a better and fairer future for his beloved nation.
“This Sunday marks World AIDS Day, when we recommit ourselves to combating HIV-AIDS in America and across the world. While great strides have been made to prevent the spread of this disease and treat those who are infected, we must continue the fight as long as HIV-AIDS continues to affect communities and endanger lives.
"The United States and its allies are committed to ensuring that Iran neither develops nor has nuclear arms.
“Our policy is that Iran should not have a nuclear arms capability. That continues to be our policy and the military option, as Secretary Kerry just said, is still on the table and it needs to be on the table.
“I'm sure that it will renew the discussions about access to weapons that can be used to kill a lot of people quickly. … what we have seen in so many of these instances are that the perpetrators have given previous indication of instability, even inclinations to use weapons, and to talk about violence. So there was no doubt this was somebody who had a record of instability and certainly should have been, I think, subject to closer scrutiny, particularly in access to a facility such as the Navy Yard, or any facility that has large numbers of people in it, that has security concerns in the United States.”
“Clearly, I don't think we can allow [the negotiations] to be used as a delaying tactic. This has to be either real, as Secretary Kerry pointed out, specific, and immediate, but whether it's days or weeks, but certainly not longer than weeks where we get to a place where we think this is real.