Chairman's Press
Chairman Menendez, Colleagues Sound Alarm Following Reports of High Denial Rates for At-Risk Afghans Seeking Humanitarian Parole into U.S.
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by 14 of his Senate colleagues in writing to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to express concern over reports of high denial rates for Afghans seeking humanitarian parole into the United States in the wake of the Taliban's takeover and the use of an untenably high standard of proof to determine eligibility for the more than 35,000 Afghans who appl… Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Ahead of Secretary Granholm’s Trip to Mexico, Senators Urge Biden Administration to Push Back Against President López Obrador’s Fossil Fuel-Friendly Agenda
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in pressing the Biden administration to speak out publicly and through diplomatic channels with greater force regarding Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's troubling fossil fuel-friendly agenda. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Energy Jennif… Continue Reading
January 18, 2022
Menendez, Cornyn, Leahy, Risch Call on Biden Administration to Keep Fighting For Austin Tice
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Cornyn (R-Texas), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter to President Joe Biden encouraging his Administration to continue pushing for the safe release of Austin Tice, a Houston native, Marine veteran, and journalist who has been held captive in Syria for nearly a decade. They wrote: "We are writing to… Continue Reading
January 17, 2022
ICYMI: On MSNBC, Chairman Menendez Discusses Growing Bipartisanship to Prevent Russia from Invading Ukraine and Latest on North Korean Ballistic Missile Tests
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC to discuss the growing bipartisanship in Washington to stop Russia's destabilizing aggression and his proposed legislation to impose crushing sanctions in the event Putin further invades Ukraine. Menendez also reacted to reports that North Korea on Monday fired two more suspected ballistic missiles into the sea. On the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty … Continue Reading
January 13, 2022
SFRC Chairman Menendez Floor Remarks on Path Forward on Effort to Prevent Russian Invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today took to the Senate Floor to deliver remarks on the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022, comprehensive legislation that he and 39 of his Senate colleagues introduced to impose crippling sanctions on the Russian economy, President Putin and senior Kremlin officials, extractive industries, and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Putin escalates hostile action in or against Ukraine. The legisla… Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Ahead of 11th Anniversary of Tunisian Revolution, Menendez, Risch, Meeks, McCaul Urge Biden Administration to Assess President Saïed’s Anti-Democratic Trajectory, Ensure Meaningful Reforms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in writing to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to express their concerns regarding recent developments in Tunisia that threaten the country's democracy. While applauding Tunisians' achievements since th… Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Full Committee Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the below opening remarks at this morning's full Committee hearing to consider the nominations of Ms. Sarah H. Cleveland to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State; Mr. James C. O'Brien to be Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination, with the Rank of Ambassador; Mr. George J. Tsunis to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Greec… Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
As Threat of Russian Invasion of Ukraine Looms, Menendez Leads Senate Democrats in Introducing the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led 38 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022, critical legislation to impose steep costs in the event of a renewed Kremlin invasion of Ukraine. As the Kremlin continues to engage in an unjustified military build-up along Ukraine's border, the proposal by Senate Democrats to deter a military escalation sends a clear message that the … Continue Reading
January 11, 2022
Menendez, Risch, Meeks, McCaul Raise Concerns Over U.S. Policy in Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today sent a letter to President Biden requesting a restoration of U.S. leadership on the crisis in Syria. The leaders asked the president to refuse reintegrating the Assad regime into the international commun… Continue Reading
January 10, 2022
El Senador Menéndez Lidera Llamado de Demócratas del Senado para Urgir Designaciones de TPS para El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras y Nicaragua
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senador, hoy fue acompañado por 32 de sus colegas demócratas del Senado en solicitar formalmente que la Administración Biden renueve las designaciones de Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS, por sus siglas en inglés) para El Salvador, Honduras y Nicaragua, al igual que una nueva designación de TPS para Guatemala. En una carta dirigida al Secret… Continue Reading
January 10, 2022
SFRC Chairman Menendez Leads Senate Dems in Calling for TPS Designations for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by 32 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in formally requesting that the Biden administration grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) re-designations for El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, in addition to a new TPS designation for Guatemala. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators expressed their grave concern with the wors… Continue Reading
January 04, 2022
SFRC Chairman Menendez, European Legislators Urge Investigation into Brazilian Meatpacking Conglomerate
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by United Kingdom House of Commons MP the Hon. Ian Liddell-Grainger and European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Chair the Hon. Norbert Lins, MEP, in releasing the below statement following their conversations on Brazilian-owned company JBS, its parent company J&F Investimentos, and its subsidiaries in Europe and the United States. In their meeting, the legislators raised… Continue Reading
December 17, 2021
Chairman Menendez Continues Push to Break Senate Republicans’ Obstruction of Critical Foreign Policy Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today again took to the Senate Floor to demand the Senate approve a host of key national security nominations that remain stuck in the Senate due to Republican's treatment of ambassadorial nominations as political pawns. Following last night's confirmation of three senior State Department and USAID nominations, Democrats are continuing their push to force confirmation votes on as many national se… Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
Menendez, Risch Statement on Continued Violence in Sudan
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 following statement on the continued violence by Sudanese security forces against Sudanese citizens and the need for a comprehensive approach to post-coup Sudan: "We strongly condemn the violence carried out by security forces against those protesting the October 25 coup that resulted in the loss of more than 40 lives. Responsibility f… Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
Menendez to Speak Ahead of Votes to Break Republican Blockade of Key State Department Nominations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today took to the Senate Floor to speak ahead of a series of votes to break Senate Republicans' unprecedented obstruction of crucial national security nominees. After months of Republicans' refusal to allow nominees through, Senate Democrats forced confirmation votes today on the appointments of Nicholas Burns to be Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Ramin Toloui to be an Assistant Sec… Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
Chairman Menendez Leads SFRC Dems in Introducing the Department of State Inclusivity Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led the entire Democratic bench of the Foreign Relations Committee in introducing the Department of State Inclusivity Act of 2021, new legislation to assess and bolster the State Department's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. By requiring the Department to develop and strengthen recruitment, retention, and promotion strategies and mechanisms to grow a more diverse workforce, includi… Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
SFRC Chair and Ranking Member Introduce the Stop Iranian Drones Act of 2021
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent Iran and any terrorist or militia groups aligned with Iran from being able to acquire lethal drones. As the United States government intensifies efforts to stop Tehran's flourishing lethal unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program, the Stop Iranian Drones Act of 2021 seeks to amend the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sancti… Continue Reading
December 15, 2021
Senators Menendez, Wicker, Cardin INTERPOL Oversight Provision Approved in NDAA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in applauding the inclusion of their amendment to the National Defense and Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY22 to prevent the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notice procedures by countries seeking to silence and persecute political opponents, human rights defenders, and journalists, among others. The bipartisan amendment combines pro… Continue Reading
December 15, 2021
Congress Approves Menendez Legislation to Bolster U.S. Defense Partnership with Greece as Part of National Defense Bill
WASHINGTON - Following the Senate's approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of FY22, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), issued the following statement announcing he was successful in including his U.S.-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act as an amendment to this year's NDAA, which now heads to President Biden's desk for his signature into law. Approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this year, the bipartisan l… Continue Reading
December 15, 2021
Chairman Menendez Celebrates Passage of State Department Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, today released the following statement after Congress passed a State Department Authorization bill for the first time in nearly two decades. Championed by Chairman Menendez, the legislation to provide authorities for State Department operations was included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, which the Senate passed today. As it heads to President Biden'… Continue Reading
