Chairman's Press
Lugar Says War Spending Must be Considered in Libya Debate
Senator Richard G. Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a committee hearing today on developments in the Middle East: I join the Chairman in welcoming Secretary Burns. I am pleased that the Foreign Relations Committee is meeting to discuss the challenges stemming from the upheaval that has swept the Middle East over the past three months. There has been dramatic change, but we are only at the very beginning of a long proce… Continue Reading
March 15, 2011
Lugar, Stutzman Introduce Bill to Ensure U.S. Farmers Are Represented in Environmental Decisions
Senators Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Congressmen Bruce Braley (D-IA) and Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure that American farmers are represented in the decision-making process for environmental policies and regulations that could affect U.S. agriculture. The Klobuchar-Lugar Representation for Farmers Act would give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to appoint up to three members with agricultural backgrounds to the Environmen… Continue Reading
March 15, 2011
Lugar Tells Christian Coalition Costs of Foreign Oil Are Too High
Senator Dick Lugar delivered the following remarks at an energy conference held by the Christian Coalition today in Washington: It is a great pleasure to join you today for this important discussion on energy, faith, and family. I want to thank Roberta Combs for her invitation and for her personal leadership and advocacy that solving our energy crisis is fundamental to ensuring the security, economy, and well-being of all Americans. Hoosiers and Americans feel the pain of our foreign oil … Continue Reading
March 14, 2011
Lugar Says Arab League Should Pay for Libyan No-Fly Zone
Senator Richard G. Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement: On Saturday, March 12, in a consensus decision, the Arab League endorsed a no-fly zone over Libya imposed by Western nations. What was not included in the Arab League's decision was any commitment to provide resources for the costs of a no-fly zone. Any effective no-fly zone likely would require American participation and military assets. Such an operation could c… Continue Reading
March 14, 2011
Kerry-Lugar-Udall Visa Bill Will Create Jobs in America
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.), today reintroduced legislation to drive job creation and increase America's global competiveness by helping immigrant entrepreneurs secure visas to the United States. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) plans to introduce companion legislation in the House. The StartUp Visa Act of 2011 will allow… Continue Reading
March 10, 2011
Lugar Says No Trade Deal, Without All Three Trade Deals
Senator Dick Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today vowed to help block the Obama Administration's South Korea free-trade agreement, unless the Colombia and Panama trade agreements signed by former President George W. Bush are also submitted to Congress for approval. "Jobs are being lost in Indiana," Lugar said. "Trade opportunities are being lost all because the Obama Administration is bowing to interest group pressure." Lugar said that while the unempl… Continue Reading
March 08, 2011
Lugar Says U.S Cannot Afford a War in Libya
Senator Richard G. Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today: Protestors and innocent people in Libya are being shot and killed. The tanks of Muammar Qadhafi's supporters are firing at lightly-armed rebels and government planes are attacking insurgent positions. Understandably, calls are growing for the United States to step in and do something to stop the bloodshed. The most popular option is imposing a no-fly zone, a… Continue Reading
March 07, 2011
Lugar to appear on CNN’s John King, USA
Senator Dick Lugar is scheduled to appear on CNN's John King, USA on Monday, March 7, 2011, to discuss current events surrounding Libya and the Middle East. The show airs from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. Watch the clip from the episode. ###… Continue Reading
March 07, 2011
Lugar Named by Nancy Reagan to Serve on Ronald Reagan Centennial Committee
Senator Dick Lugar has been named by former First Lady Nancy Reagan to a special host committee for an event honoring the centennial of the birth of the late President Ronald Reagan. Lugar accepted the request of Mrs. Reagan to serve on the Honorary Congressional Centennial Host Committee for an event in Washington honoring the 40th President of the United States with the presentation of the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award. "On the evening of May 24th," Mrs. Reagan wrote to Lugar, "the Trustees of… Continue Reading
March 03, 2011
Lugar Says Economic Growth Hurt by Obama Administration
U.S. Senator Dick Lugar today said that the Obama Administration is hurting economic growth, especially in agriculture products, because it "lacks a sufficient commitment to exports and trade promotion." "We cannot achieve a full economic recovery in isolation from the rest of the world," Lugar told Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing this afternoon. "This is especially true with regard to trade policy." Lugar said that the "United States … Continue Reading
March 03, 2011
Lugar Cosponsors Legislation to Prevent Further EPA Regulation
Senator Dick Lugar today joined 42 other Republican Senators in introducing "The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011". The legislation prevents the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases under the existing Clean Air Act. "Indiana continues to suffer from 9.5% unemployment, higher than the national average," said Lugar. "The last thing we need at this critical stage of economic recovery is to have a bunch of big government federal regulators coming with rules… Continue Reading
March 03, 2011
Opening Statement by Senator Richard G. Lugar SFRC Hearing on “Navigating a Turbulent Global Economy”
I join the Chairman in welcoming Secretary Geithner and thank him for appearing again before the Foreign Relations Committee. The political upheaval in the Middle East, financial crises in Europe, continuing global food insecurity, rising demand for energy and other commodities; the increasing trade deficit with China; and ballooning foreign ownership of our debt all have implications for the livelihoods of Americans. Today we have the opportunity to learn what the Administration is doing to a… Continue Reading
March 03, 2011
Lugar Requests Extension on White River Comment Period
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar today wrote a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers requesting a 30 day extension of the comment period for the White River North 3B flood protection and mitigation project. "I have received several letters, email messages and telephone calls in my office from residents of Indianapolis concerned about the structures proposed for this 3B project and the limited 30 day time period they have been given to consider the full ramifications and long-term impact of this proposed fl… Continue Reading
March 02, 2011
Opening Statement State Department Budget Hearing Senator Richard G. Lugar March 2, 2011
I join the Chairman in welcoming Secretary Clinton to the Committee. I look forward to her thoughts on State Department and foreign policy priorities for the coming year. Our hearing today takes place in the context of deep economic uncertainty at home, coupled with extraordinary upheaval overseas. The American people are still suffering from high unemployment, with 9.5 percent out of work in my home state. The fiscal year 2010 budget deficit registered about $1.3 trillion, or 9 percent of G… Continue Reading
March 01, 2011
Lugar Presses Obama Administration on America POW/MIA
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today called on the Obama Administration to "forcefully" press North Korea and China on the more than 8,000 Americans still listed as missing from the Korean Conflict more than 50 years ago. "Until May of 2005, the U.S. and North Korea cooperated on a recovery program of the remains of U.S. servicemen," Lugar reported in his opening statement at a committee hearing on North Korea's development of nuclear wea… Continue Reading
March 01, 2011
Lugar Cautions State Department on Spending
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar cautioned the State Department that all requested spending, at this time of economic and fiscal hardship in America, will have to pass the acid test of whether foreign assistance programs contribute to national security and economic development. Lugar met with Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides prior to testimony by Secretary Hilary Clinton on Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Lugar is ranking member. The Obama Administration has requested Co… Continue Reading
February 16, 2011
Lugar Warns Obama Administration is Making America Vulnerable
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar warned that the Obama Administration is making the United States more vulnerable to oil shortages. In a speech today to the Alliance to Save Energy, Lugar called on the Obama Administration to lift the current off shore drilling ban, and to license the construction of a new Canadian oil pipeline from Alberta. "We must reduce the security and economic vulnerabilities inherent in our over-dependence on foreign oil," said Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Rel… Continue Reading
February 15, 2011
Lugar Blasts EPA Dust Regulations
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar today strongly criticized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for considering a regulation on farm and rural dust. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, co-authored with Sen. Kent Conrad and signed by 30 other Senators, Lugar said EPA review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards "for coarse particulate matter," also known as PM10, or just "dust" could be extremely burdensome on farmers and rural communities. "Proposals to lower the standard may not b… Continue Reading
February 15, 2011
Lugar Urges More Action on Internet Freedom
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today urged the Obama Administration to step up its initiatives to ensure freedom of the Internet around the world. "I applaud the continuing efforts of Secretary of State Clinton and everything the Department of State is doing to counter authoritarian governments and their designs to control access to the Internet," Lugar said, remarking on her speech on Internet freedom today. Lugar, however, expressed co… Continue Reading
February 14, 2011
Lugar Statement on North Korean Food Aid
In response to the Obama Administration 's current review of recent North Korean requests for a resumption of U.S. food aid to North Korea Senator Lugar issued the following statement: "Any resumption of U.S. food aid to North Korea should be contingent on North Korea allowing access and accountability by monitors in accordance with international standards. It is essential to ensure that the U.S. assistance is actually received by hungry North Korean children and their families rather than rei… Continue Reading
