Chairman Menendez, Ranking Member Risch Applaud Committee Approval of Resolution Recognizing 75th Anniversary of Marshall Plan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the below statements following the Committee’s approval of their resolution recognizing the Marshall Plan’s role in founding a transatlantic community committed to the preservation of peace, prosperity, and democracy. The bipartisan resolution, which reaffirms the United States’ policy to cooperate with transatlantic allies and partners and congratulates the German Marshall Fund (GMF) on its fiftieth anniversary, moves next to the floor for consideration by the full Senate.

“Seventy five years since its unveiling, the Marshall Plan continues to serve as the guiding force behind the United States’ active and reliable engagement in the transatlantic community,” Chairman Menendez said. “As Putin’s brutal siege on Ukraine continues, this is one of the most important moments in decades to reaffirm our ability to come together in the face of autocratic aggression to maintain stability and safeguard democracy. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure Senate passage of this commonsense resolution, and to send yet another message to Putin that makes clear transatlantic unity has never been stronger.”

“The Marshall Plan helped build the world order we enjoy today by serving as a foundation for a transatlantic community committed to the preservation of peace, prosperity, and democracy in Europe following World War II. It also laid the groundwork for Europe’s economic success while reinvigorating the U.S. economy,” said Ranking Member Risch. “In the last 100-plus days, we’ve seen that world order again threatened by another dictator – this time by Putin in Ukraine. As such, I’m proud the committee passed our resolution today commemorating the 75^th anniversary of the Marshall Plan and reaffirming our support for European allies and partners as we work to help the citizens of Ukraine feed their families and rebuild their homeland.”

Find a copy of the resolution HERE.

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