Chairman's Press
***VIDEO*** Menendez on the Biden Administration’s Reported Action Granting Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the video and statement below in reaction to reports that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will provide Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans in the United States. "I want to thank President Biden for delivering on his promise to stand with the Venezuelan people. To keep deporting Venezuelans back to Maduro's tragedy would be to tell them they are a burden … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Joint Statement from Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member Risch on U.S.-Bulgaria Bilateral Relationship
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on the U.S.-Bulgaria relationship as the country begins the official campaigning period for parliamentary elections: "The United States and Bulgaria have a robust and growing relationship that, like the NATO alliance as a whole, is strongest when it rests on shared democratic values. We would like to see this relationship continue to develop, … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Bipartisan Senators Introduce Legislation to Reassert Democratic Leadership in Technology Strategy & Development
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, along with Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), today introduced legislation to develop a partnership and strategy among democratic countries to compete against growing technological strength and influence by… Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member Risch Announce SFRC Subcommittee Assignments for 117th Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today announced subcommittee leadership and membership assignments for the 117th Congress. "I look forward to working in close coordination with the incoming subcommittee members to chart forward a path of renewal and reengagement for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee," Chairman Menendez said. "From rebuilding the State Department to reestablishing American leadership … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Menendez, Rubio, Kaine, Cassidy and Cardin Introduce IDB General Capital Increase Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined today by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the SFRC Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, as well as Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in reintroducing legislation authorizing the tenth general capital increase for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the hemisphere's leading international financial institution. At a… Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Menéndez, Rubio, Colegas Presentan Resolución en Honor a Las Damas de Blanco
WASHINGTON - Los senadores estadounidenses Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, y Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) presentaron una resolución (S.Res.81) bipartidista en honor a Las Damas de Blanco, un movimiento pacífico liderado por mujeres que apoya la libertad y la defensa de los DDHH. en Cuba e insta activamente a la liberación de todos los presos políticos en Cuba. Estas valientes mujeres, que le dan voz a los cuban… Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Menendez, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Honoring Las Damas de Blanco
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced a bipartisan resolution (S.Res.81) honoring Las Damas de Blanco, a women-led peaceful nonviolent movement that supports freedom and human rights in Cuba and actively urges the release of all political prisoners in Cuba. These courageous women, who offer a voice to Cuba's voiceless, gather and march peacefully through the streets of Havana with gladiolus flower… Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Menendez, Risch Unveil New Legislation to Confront Growing Threat of Terrorism in the Sahel
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 are introducing new legislation authorizing the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) program to combat the growing threat of terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa. Entitled The Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Program Act of 2021, the bipartisan legislation establishes in law a program to improve coordination between U.S. g… Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Chairman Menendez Delivers Opening Remarks at Committee Hearing on Nominations for Senior State Department Posts
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 committee hearing on the nominations of Wendy Sherman to serve as Deputy Secretary of State and Brian McKeon to serve as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. Below are Chairman Menendez's remarks as delivered: "This hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. We are here today t… Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Chairman Menendez on Biden Administration’s Russia Sanctions over Navalny Poisoning
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement following the Biden administration's announcement that it will impose a new wave of sanctions on multiple Russian government officials and entities in response to the Kremlin's attempted murder of anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny: "Today's announcement sends a clear signal of accountability that the United States will not turn a blind eye to those who use these t… Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Chairman Menendez and European Allies on Political Situation in Georgia
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined his counterparts from Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic in issuing the following statement regarding recent anti-democratic developments in Georgia: "The storming of the office of the United National Movement, the largest opposition party in Georgia, in order to arrest Nika Melia, its Chairman, exposed the fragility of democracy and freedom in Georgi… Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Menendez Statement on the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol
NEWARK - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement on the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol, marking seven years since Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea: "On this solemn anniversary, I stand with the Ukrainian people in rejecting the Russian government's ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea. Nothing that the Kremlin says or does will change the fact that Crimea is Ukraine, and Congress h… Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement on U.S. Intelligence Report on the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to the Biden administration's publication of a U.S. intelligence report on Saudi Arabia's assassination of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi: "Today the United States government finally acknowledged what the rest of the world has already known: Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman personally approved the operation in which Saud… Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement for Senate Record on Escalating Violence in Darfur Following UNAMID Dissolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following statement for the Senate Record in response to ongoing tensions and violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. The statement calls for the United Nations Security Council to reconsider its December 2020 move to dissolve the United Nations - African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), which had a Chapter VII peacekeeping mandate allowing it to provide critical support a… Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement in Observance of Estonia’s Independence Day
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in observance of Estonia's Independence Day, February 24: "I extend my best wishes to the Estonian people as you celebrate your Independence Day. As a NATO ally, Estonia has been instrumental in advancing our shared security against regional threats, particularly in the cybersecurity space, and in standing up for democracy and human rights. I am also grateful for… Continue Reading
February 22, 2021
Menendez Remarks Ahead of Cloture Vote for Linda Thomas-Greenfield as UN Ambassador
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on the Senate Floor ahead of today's vote to invoke cloture on the nomination of Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. "What the United States desperately needs right now at the UN is renewal and reengagement with key alliances and institutions," Senator Menendez said. "Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has the expertise, the strength, and the cha… Continue Reading
February 16, 2021
Chairman Menendez Statement in Observance of Lithuania’s Restoration of the State Day
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in observance of Lithuania's Restoration of the State Day, February 16: "I send my best wishes to the Lithuanian people as they celebrate Restoration of the State Day. Lithuania has a long history of standing against foreign occupations and defending its people, resulting in a thriving democracy that the United States is proud to have as a close friend and NATO ally. L… Continue Reading
February 16, 2021
Menendez Statement on Deadly Rocket Attack in Erbil
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in response to last night's rocket attack on a U.S. facility in Iraq's Kurdistan region: "I strongly condemn yesterday's attack in Erbil and send my condolences to the families of the U.S. contractor who was killed and the U.S. service member and other contractors who were injured. This latest attack demonstrates the importance of robust security cooperation between th… Continue Reading
February 11, 2021
Menendez Expresses Support for Independent Media in Poland
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement expressing concerns following the Polish government's proposed advertising tax targeting independent media: "I am deeply concerned by the Polish government's effort to impose a new tax on independent media companies' advertising revenue. This measure could undermine the financial viability of Poland's independent media, a necessity for any democracy. No government … Continue Reading
February 10, 2021
Menendez, Rubio Seek Answers about Amazon Dealings with Chinese Company Reportedly Complicit in Uyghur Genocide
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), in calling on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to detail the nature of his company's dealings with Dahua Technology Co., a Chinese company that has reportedly developed facial recognition software to recognize and report detection of Uyghur Muslims to Chinese authorities, facilitating the Ch… Continue Reading
