WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, earlier this week U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined Fox News' Bret Baier for his Common Ground segment. The Senators discussed their upcoming bipartisan bill that will increase criminal penalties for individuals who commit or attempt to commit violent crimes in the United States on behalf of foreign adversaries, including Iran. In the interview, Senator Hassan also spoke to the importance of standing strong against Putin, as well as her view on working across the aisle in Congress.

You can watch the full interview here, and key excerpts from the interview are below:

Senator Hassan on Her New Bipartisan Legislation with Senator Ernst, the DETERRENCE Act

On reports that Iran is paying criminal organizations to carry out violent crimes, including attempted assassinations, against elected officials and critics of the Iranian regime residing in the United States: "This is outrageous behavior by Iran. They are working with criminal organizations in the United States to kill people on American soil. That is unacceptable."

On the upcoming DETERRENCE Act: "We talked again about what do we do in America to demonstrate to the autocrats around the world that we will not stand for this. And the DETERRENCE bill that Senator Ernst and I have is really our effort to say - look, there are already serious criminal penalties for gangs or criminals who engage in this behavior on American soil, but when they act in concert, on behalf of, a foreign government, what we want to make very clear is those penalties will be even more severe. That not only is important for deterrence, but it gives our law enforcement, our prosecutors, extra leverage against these gangs and really helps disrupt them."

Senator Hassan on Standing Strong Against Putin

On the importance of standing with Ukrainians as they fight for freedom: "The Ukrainian people are trying to repel an unjustified brutal invasion by Vladimir Putin. Autocrats around the world - China, Iran, North Korea - are watching whether we are going to stand with the Ukrainian people for freedom or not. Americans stand for freedom and against autocrats. And I think it's very important that we've been able to support the Ukrainians as they try to protect their sovereignty…The Ukrainians need to decide how and when to settle this war. But they also need to know that they've got the tools they need to make that a meaningful negotiation when and if they decide to do that."

Senator Hassan on Bipartisanship

On political division in Congress: "One of the things I wish more Americans could see is that we do, first of all, get along. Joni and I started the day at the gym together…we get along. I get to see the people of New Hampshire - Senator Ernst gets to see the people of Iowa - doing things together regardless of political affiliation all the time. Being good to each other. Building their communities up together. We need to reflect that in Washington."

On the importance of compromise: "I'm really glad you do this segment because your viewers, all Americans, need to understand that there is common ground in Washington, D.C., as there is all across our country. And we need to find ways to focus on moving together and compromising, which, by the way, also means- compromising means sometimes you have to do something you wouldn't do yourself. But it's a way to move forward. I think it makes us more creative and stronger."

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