Senator Cardin Delivers Final Remarks as Committee Chair at Global Magnitsky Hearing
“It’s our values-based foreign policy which distinguishes us from the autocratic countries of the world, and I think we have a responsibility to make sure that we can do this better,” said Chair Cardin.
WATCH THE CHAIR’S FULL OPENING REMARKS HERE
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) delivered his final opening remarks as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the full Committee hearing, “Implementation of the Global Magnitsky Law.” In his remarks, Chair Cardin stressed the importance of fighting global corruption and the future of targeted global sanctions programs. He outlined the success of his legislation, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, and urged his colleagues to continue to take the lead in calling out corruption and violations of human rights.
“First, let me say, as one of my last responsibilities in chairing this hearing, it couldn’t be a more appropriate subject for today – the implementation of the ‘Global Magnitsky law.’ I want to thank the members of the committee for their cooperation during my term as Chair of the committee – it has been an incredible honor, and I want to thank Senator Risch for his cooperation,” said Chair Cardin. “I want to acknowledge why this is so appropriate. While I was a freshman member of this Committee – where Senator Helmy is sitting today – I got engaged with the tragedy of Sergei Magnitsky. It was during that period of time that we were working with Bill Browder, working with Sergei Magnitsky's tragic circumstances of being imprisoned, and we wanted to do something about it. So, I introduced the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act as a way of saying that we are going to hold abusers accountable, even if their own country does not.”
“It is incumbent upon all government officials – we have an obligation to advance policies that respect human freedom and the dignity of individuals, and this is especially true of those of us who live in democracies,” continued Chair Cardin. “It’s our values-based foreign policy which distinguishes us from the autocratic countries of the world, and I think we have a responsibility to make sure that we can do this better.”
WATCH THE CHAIR’S FULL OPENING REMARKS HERE
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