Chairman's Press
Menéndez y Rubio Instan a Borrell a Apoyar a los Presos Políticos de Cuba
WASHINGTON - Los senadores estadounidenses Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, y Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Subcomité sobre Hemisferio Occidental, le enviaron una carta al Alto Representante de la Unión Europea, Josep Borrell, instándolo a "ampliar la asistencia de la Unión Europea a los activistas pro-democracia y los defensores de DDHH. en Cuba y reevaluar el Acuerdo de Di&aa… Continue Reading
December 08, 2021
Menendez, Rubio Urge Borrell to Stand with Cuban Political Prisoners
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, today sent a letter to the European Union's High Representative Josep Borrell urging him to "expand European Union assistance to democracy activists and human rights defenders in Cuba and reevaluate the PDCA to ensure that it allows the European Union to facilitate progress for the Cuban people.… Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Chairman Menendez Lays Out Opposition to Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Block Proposed Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, tonight took to the Senate Floor to lay out his opposition to S. J. Res. 31, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of certain defense articles. "I carefully consider every arms sale that comes before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for review. Arms sales are a critical tool of foreign policy that can … Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing: Update on U.S.-Russia Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the below opening remarks at this afternoon's full Committee hearing entitled "Updates on U.S.- Russia Policy," convened as Russia continues its massive military buildup along Ukraine's border. Testifying before the Committee was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs the Honorable Victoria Nuland. "I want to be crystal clear to those listening to this hearing in Moscow, … Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Menéndez, Rubio, Cardin y Cassidy Presentan Resolución Reafirmando Relación Bilateral entre Estados Unidos y la Republica Dominicana
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores en el Senado, hoy fue acompañado por los Senadores Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Subcomité sobre el Hemisferio Occidental, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Presidente del Subcomité sobre la Gestión del Departamento de Estado y USAID, y Bill Cassidy (R-La.) en presentar una resolución en el Senado reafirmando la importancia de la relaci&oac… Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Menendez, Rubio, Cardin, Cassidy Introduce Senate Resolution on Enduring Bilateral Relationship Between United States and Dominican Republic
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee On Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, And Global Women's Issues, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chairman of the Subcommittee On State Department And USAID Management, International Operations, And Bilateral International Development, and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing a Senate resoluti… Continue Reading
December 06, 2021
Chairman Menendez, Senate Dems Call for Heightened Focus on Human Rights at Upcoming Dialogue with Uzbekistan
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by five of his Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on the Biden administration to emphasize human rights during the upcoming Strategic Partnership Dialogue between the United States and Uzbekistan in mid-December. While recognizing Uzbekistan's progress on human rights, the senators pressed the Central Asian nation to enact sweeping reforms as promised by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and specifica… Continue Reading
December 06, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement on Reports of U.S. Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Olympics
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today released the following statement following reports that the Biden administration will officially impose a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing, China. The Menendez-authored Strategic Competition Act, which passed the Senate as part of the comprehensive legislative package to bolster U.S. competiveness with China, included provisions requiring a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Olymp… Continue Reading
December 03, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement in Observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today issued the following statement in observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Senator also announced he will soon introduce new legislation to build the capacity of local organizations of people with disabilities (OPDs) around the world to support the robust participation, engagement, and achievement of people with disabilities. "On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reaffi… Continue Reading
December 01, 2021
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 Mr. Scott Nathan to be Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation; the Honorable John R. Bass, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Career Minister, to be an Under Secretary of State (Management); the Honorable Mark Br… Continue Reading
November 30, 2021
Intervención del Senador Menéndez Sobre la Política de EE.UU. en Apoyo a la Democracia en América Latina y el Caribe
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, hoy realizó la siguientes declaraciones durante la audiencia del Comité sobre la política de Estados Unidos en relación a la democracia en América Latina y el Caribe. Testificando hoy ante el Comité estaban el Honorable Brian A. Nichols, Subsecretario de Estado para Asuntos del Hemisferio Occidental, y el Honorable Todd Robinson, Subsec… Continue Reading
November 30, 2021
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on U.S. Policy on Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean
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 on United States policy on democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Testifying before the Committee were the Honorable Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and the Honorable Todd Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Aff… Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Chairman Menendez Questions Witnesses at Subcommittee Hearing on Vaccine Diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today questioned witnesses at this morning's Western Hemisphere Subcommittee hearing entitled "Vaccine Diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Importance of U.S. Engagement." "The pandemic exposed many of the region's weaknesses, including widening social inequalities, [expansive informal sectors], growing environmental risks, a gender-based violence epidemic, and weak healthcare and education institu… Continue Reading
November 17, 2021
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Committee Hearing on Lessons Learned from U.S. War in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full Committee hearing entitled "Afghanistan 2001-2021: U.S. Policy Lessons Learned." Testifying before the Committee were Ms. Laurel E. Miller, Director of the Asia Program at the International Crisis Group, and the Honorable Ambassador Ryan Crocker, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "The failure to cement democratic gains in… Continue Reading
November 17, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement on SFRC Plans to Take Up Kigali Amendment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement after the White House submitted the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol for the Senate's Advice and Consent to U.S. accession. The Kigali Amendment is a global agreement for the phasedown on the production and use of chemical Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a family of powerful greenhouse gases, commonly used for refrigeration, air conditioning and … Continue Reading
November 12, 2021
Menendez, Risch, Meeks, McCaul Joint Statement on Houthi Breach of U.S. Embassy in Yemen
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 Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following joint statement to condemn the Houthi breach of the U.S. Embassy in Sana'a, Yemen, and the subsequent harassment and detainment of U.S. current and former locally-employed staff: "We a… Continue Reading
November 12, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement on Lukashenka Regime’s Trafficking of Migrants at the Border with the EU and NATO
JERSEY CITY, NJ - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement condemning the Lukashenka regime's politically-motivated trafficking of thousands of migrants at the Eastern borders of the EU and NATO: "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the Lukashenka regime's trafficking of vulnerable migrant families to the borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia to instigate a political and humanitarian crisis. "The real … Continue Reading
November 09, 2021
Chairman Menendez, Colleagues Urge Greater Clarity, Transparency Regarding Upcoming Summit for Democracy
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by seven of his Senate colleagues in writing a letter to President Joe Biden in advance of the upcoming December Summit for Democracy calling for clarity and transparency regarding the criteria used to determine which countries were invited to participate in the Summit, what role civil society will play in planning and execution, and what specific commitments the Administration will put forth during t… Continue Reading
November 08, 2021
Menendez, Meeks Urge Cybersecurity Engagement with Private, Public Sector Partners at Paris Peace Forum
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined today by Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in writing to Vice President Kamala Harris in advance of her upcoming travel to the Paris Peace Forum to express support for the Biden-Harris administration's reinvigorated emphasis on U.S. leadership on cybersecurity and technology issues. The lawmakers also requested additional information… Continue Reading
November 08, 2021
Menendez, Risch, Cassidy Lead Colleagues in Calling Out Fraudulent Elections in Nicaragua
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), SFRC Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today led Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in releasing the following statement after the sham elections in Nicaragua on November 7: "We strongly condemn the Ortega-Murillo regime's fraudulent attempt to maintain pow… Continue Reading
