Chairman's Press
Menendez, Risch, Meeks, McCaul Join Biden Administration Push to Restore Cross-border Aid Deliveries 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 Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today joined to reaffirm their support for the Biden Administration's push to restore life-saving humanitarian assistance to millions of innocent Syrians by facilitating its delivery to those outside areas the murd… Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
As VP Travels to Mexico and Central America, Leading Senate Democrats Boost Diplomatic Efforts to Address Causes of Irregular Migration, Foster Stability in Central America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led a group of 18 of his Senate colleagues in voicing their support for Vice President Kamala Harris' leadership of the Biden administration's diplomatic efforts to address and mitigate the underlying factors driving Central American migration to the United States. Sent in advance of Vice President Harris' upcoming visit to Mexico and Guatemala, the senators' letter reiterates their call fo… Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
En Vísperas del Viaje de la Vicepresidente a México y Centroamérica, Demócratas en el Senado Alientan Esfuerzos Diplomáticos para Abordar las Causas de la Migración Irregular y Promover Estabilidad en Centroamérica
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led a group of 18 of his Senate colleagues in voicing their support for Vice President Kamala Harris' leadership of the Biden administration's diplomatic efforts to address and mitigate the underlying factors driving Central American migration to the United States. Sent in advance of Vice President Harris' upcoming visit to Mexico and Guatemala, the senators' letter reiterates their call fo… Continue Reading
June 03, 2021
Menendez, Graham Op-Ed: The way forward on containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions
WASHINGTON - As indirect talks in Vienna between the U.S. and Iran continue, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), today published an op-ed for the Washington Post laying out the case for a broader, bipartisan and comprehensive diplomatic approach to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions and curb its regional aggressions. "We believe there is a way to achieve a compromise that will find support among the countries of the region… Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Committee Hearing on U.S. Strategy and Policy Response to Crisis in Ethiopia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at this morning's full Committee hearing on the United States' strategy and policy response to ongoing crisis in Ethiopia. Testifying before the Committee were the Honorable Robert F. Godec, Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and Ms. Sarah Charles, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Humanitarian… Continue Reading
May 26, 2021
***ICYMI*** Chairmen Menendez and Meeks Pen Op-Ed: On Ethiopia, the U.S. Must Show Resolve
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today wrote a joint op-ed titled, "Ethiopia: The Biden administration must put its foot down" which was published in The Africa Report. The op-ed appears below: The Africa Reports - Ethiopia: The Biden administration must put its foot down By: Senator Bob Menendez and Congressman Gregory Meeks Wedne… Continue Reading
May 26, 2021
Senator Menendez, Congresswoman Clark Lead Colleagues in Bicameral Reintroduction of Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Assistant Speaker of the 117th Congress Representative Katherine Clark (MA-5) were joined by 22 of their Senate and 122 of their House colleagues in addition to leading reproductive health and human rights organizations and activists in announcing the bicameral reintroduction of the Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act. The legislation directs the State Department to report on the status … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Menendez, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling for Freedom of the Press around the World
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today led a group of 11 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution in recognition of burgeoning threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world. The bipartisan resolution maintains the centrality of an independent press to the health of democracy and reaffirms freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human righ… Continue Reading
May 23, 2021
Chairman Menendez and European Allies Condemn Lukashenka Regime for Intercepting Civilian Flight to Arrest Journalist
Jersey City, N.J. - U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued the following joint statement with his counterparts in the Czech Republic, Latvia, Germany, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, and the United Kingdom condemning the Lukashenka regime for forcefully landing a Ryanair flight to arrest journalist Raman Pratasevich: "We, the chairs of our respective national parliament's Foreign Affairs Committees, condemn unequivocally the threat of violence used against a c… Continue Reading
May 22, 2021
Chairman Menendez Celebrates Biden Administration’s New Designation of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Biden administration announced it would issue a new designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Today's announcement follows calls from Chairman Menendez urging the administration to designate TPS for eligible Haitians in the U.S. currently unable to return safely to their homeland due to a compounding set of devastation from nationa… Continue Reading
May 21, 2021
Menendez, Risch Announce Introduction of Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Human Rights Legacy of Andrei Sakharov
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 commemorated the 100th anniversary of Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov's birthday by announcing they will introduce a bipartisan resolution lauding the renowned physicist's legacy of activism and impassioned dedication to human rights advocacy and nuclear disarmament. "Today, as we face brazen abuses of fundamental human rights worldwide, we look t… Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Menendez, Rubio, Merkley, Coons File Amendment to Attach Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act to Senate’s China Legislative Package
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) in introducing an amendment to the China legislative package currently being debated on the Senate Floor. The amendment seeks to add a provision to the bipartisan Strategic Competition Act to ensure Hong Kongers who peacefully protested Beijing's corrupt justice system and have a well-founded fear… Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement on State Department’s Nord Stream 2 Report
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued the following statement after Congress received a mandatory report from the State Department regarding entities involved in sanctionable activity by the builders of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Citing U.S. national security interests, the Biden Administration announced it would waive mandatory sanctions on the company Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO Matthias Warnig. "I am opposed to the decision by… Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Chairman Menendez Makes the Case for Strategic Competition Act as Senate Recalibrates U.S.-China Relations
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 Strategic Competition Act. Introduced by Chairman Menendez and SFRC Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the legislation is an unprecedented bipartisan effort to mobilize all of the United States' strategic, economic, and diplomatic tools for an Indo-Pacific strategy that enables the U.S. government to compete effectively with China and conf… Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Chairman Menendez Delivers Opening Remarks at Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following opening remarks at this morning's full Committee hearing to consider the nominations of the Honorable Brian A. Nichols to be an Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and the Honorable Michele Jeanne Sison to be an Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. "When we shun our responsibilities and fail to lead, othe… Continue Reading
May 15, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement on Violence Across Israel and Gaza
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued the following statement on the latest developments in the escalating violence across Israel and Gaza: "I am deeply troubled by reports of Israeli military actions that resulted in the death of innocent civilians in Gaza as well as Israeli targeting of buildings housing international media outlets. In response to thousands of rocket attacks fired by Hamas aimed at civilians, Israel has ev… Continue Reading
May 14, 2021
Menéndez, Kaine, Rubio Instan al Presidente Biden a Enfocarse en el Acceso a las Vacunas COVID-19 para América Latina y el Caribe
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), el Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores en el Senado, y los Senadores Tim Kaine (D-Va.) y Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), el Presidente y Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Subcomité del Hemisferio Occidental, instaron hoy a la Administración Biden a que desarrolle una estrategia integral que aborde la grave crisis del COVID-19 en América Latina y el Caribe y se enfoque en el acceso a vacunas para los país… Continue Reading
May 14, 2021
Menendez, Kaine, Rubio Urge President Biden to Focus On COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined today by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, in calling on the Biden Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses the severe COVID-19 crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean and focuses on vaccine access for developing countries in the Americas. As the pandemic continues to … Continue Reading
May 14, 2021
Menéndez, Rubio Piden a la Secretaría del Tesoro que Responsabilice a Empresas Fantasmas que Ayudan al Régimen Cubano
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 a la secretaría del Tesoro, Janet Yellen, instándola a que utilice todas las herramientas disponibles para responsabilizar a las personas vinculadas al régimen cubano que están "utilizando un extensa red … Continue Reading
May 14, 2021
Menendez, Rubio Urge Treasury Secretary to Hold Shell Companies Aiding the Cuban Regime Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging her to use all available tools to hold accountable individuals linked to the Cuban regime who are "using an extensive network of shell companies to circumvent U.S. law." "According to a recent investigation by the Miami Herald and Nuevo Herald, t… Continue Reading