it is my deep privilege to introduce the ambassador at large from the state department sam brownback who will be giving the keynote address in just a moment ago i have known the ambassador for about 25 years when he was in the senate working together including suda sudan. so i am very pleased in this position and someone who has been empowered under this administration and through congress and really is the face of religious freedom as a priority and foreign policy and to organize and innovate hundreds or thousands from all over the world who are deeply invested in religious freedoms the czar survivors of religious persecution from across the globe please join me to welcome sam brownback. [applause] >> i appreciate that greatly it's a pleasure to be back at hudson and to be on the phone with the prime minister of sudan that is not normal thing 25 years ago fighting the regime state-sponsored terrorism that united states experienced firsthand but it shows if you keep after then you can win and you will win. and for those of great hope in the world the hope things continue to move forw