Chairman's Press
Chairman Menendez Condemns Attacks on Civilians in Daraa, Syria, Calls for Accountability
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement condemning intensifying hostilities against civilians in Daraa, Syria: "I strongly condemn the worsening crisis in Daraa threatening the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Syrians. Since late June, the Assad regime, with the help of Iranian-aligned militias, has laid a humanitarian siege on nearly 50,000 civilians in Daraa, depriving its own citizens of food,… Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Committee Hearing on Administration Perspectives toward Authorizations of Use of Force
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following opening statement at this morning's full Committee hearing on legal and policy matters surrounding the use of military force. Testifying before the Committee were Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, U.S. Department of State Acting Legal Adviser Richard Visek, and Department of Defense General Counsel Caroline Krass. "I absolutely believe we must provide… Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Chairman Menendez Urges State Department to Boost Dedicated Efforts and Resources to Help Clear Passport Processing Backlog for U.S. Citizens
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting information from the State Department concerning the extraordinary challenges to its current ability to process passport applications as millions of Americans make arrangements to travel abroad this summer. The Chairman's letter was prompted by mounting reports in recent weeks of unprecedented delays in passport processing, impac… Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Chairman Menendez Applauds Qatari Government’s $100 Million Contribution in Humanitarian Assistance for Yemen
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement expressing support for the Qatari government's recent contribution of an additional $100 million towards humanitarian operations in Yemen to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the country: "I applaud Qatar's leadership in helping the Yemeni people. The Qatari government's recent announcement of an additional $100 million in additional humanitarian assistan… Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Chairman Menendez, European Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs Issue Joint Statement on Nord Stream 2
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by his counterparts from Estonia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania in issuing the following joint statement in opposition to the recent agreement between the United States and Germany to allow the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline: "We, the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees of our respective national parliaments, continue to… Continue Reading
July 30, 2021
Declaraciones del Senador Menéndez Sobre Reunión con el Presidente Biden, Líderes Cubanos Acerca del Movimiento Pro-Democracia en la Isla
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, hoy acompañó al Presidente Biden en la Casa Blanca para una reunión con un grupo de líderes cubanoamericanos. Discutieron la situación actual en Cuba y las acciones que ha tomado la Administración para apoyar al histórico movimiento pro-democracia en la isla que exige el respeto de los derechos humanos más básicos y… Continue Reading
July 30, 2021
Readout from Chairman Menendez on Meeting with President Biden, Cuban Leaders about the Island’s Pro-Democracy Movement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined President Biden in the White House for a meeting with a group of Cuban American leaders. They discussed the ongoing situation in Cuba and the actions the Administration has taken in support of the historic pro-democracy movement on the island as it demands respect for basic human rights and the end of the dictatorship in Cuba. During the meeting, the President also detailed a number … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Discurso del Senador Menéndez Sobre la Política de EEUU Hacia Cuba
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores en el Senado, hoy realizó un discurso en el Pleno del Senado acerca de la trayectoria de la política de Estados Unidos hacia Cuba. El Senador delineo sus recientes consultas con el Presidente Biden y el Secretario Blinken sobre cómo seguir apoyando el creciente movimiento pro-democracia de la isla y la importancia de asegurar el respeto de los derechos humanos y libert… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Menendez, Kaine, Rubio Introduce Senate Resolution in Honor of Bicentennial Anniversary of Peruvian Independence
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today was joined by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, in introducing a Senate Resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of Peru's independence. The bipartisan Resolution celebrates the many achievements and triumphs of the Peruvian community and the strength of the United States' relationship with Peru, which is r… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
SFRC Chairman Menendez Delivers Floor Speech on U.S. Policy Toward Cuba
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 trajectory of United States policy toward Cuba. The Senator outlined his recent consultations with President Biden and Secretary Blinken on how to continue supporting the island's surging pro-democracy movement and the importance of securing respect for the universal rights and freedoms of the Cuban people. "We are bearing witness to a his… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Menendez, Inhofe Applaud Committee Passage of Legislation to Strengthen Support for Taiwan’s Participation in WHO’s World Health Assembly
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), co-chairmen of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, today released the below statements following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's unanimous passage of their legislation to direct the State Department to develop a strategy to assist Taiwan in obtaining observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, ahead of its annual global assembl… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado Aprueba Resolución Afirmando Apoyo del Congreso de EEUU al Movimiento Pro-Democracia en Cuba
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, hoy fue acompañado por el Senador Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Subcomité sobre el Hemisferio Occidental, el Senador Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), y el Senador Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, en emitir las siguientes declaraciones aplaudiendo la aprobación por … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Senate Committee Approves Resolution Reaffirming Congressional Support for Cuba’s Pro-Democracy Movement
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.), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), in releasing the following statements lauding the Committee's unanimous approval of their bipartisan Resolution condemning the Cuban government's violent response… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Menendez, Risch, Portman, Murphy Applaud Committee Passage of Comprehensive Global Health Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) today applauded committee passage of the International Pandemic Preparedness and COVID-19 Response Act (S. 2297), comprehensive legislation to improve global health and pandemic preparedness and enhance COVID-19 response efforts. "As COVID-19 continues to surge across the globe, we are coming together … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Committee Nominations Hearing
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 to consider the nominations of the Honorable Kenneth Lee Salazar to be Ambassador to the United Mexican States; Ms. Jessica Lewis to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs); the Honorable Donald Lu to be Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs; and the Honorable Marcel… Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Menéndez Aplaude Anuncio de la Administración Biden de Aumentar Sanciones Selectivas Contra Funcionarios del Régimen Cubano
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, emitió las siguientes declaraciones después de que la Administración Biden anunciara que continuaría apoyando al movimiento pro-democracia de Cuba al imponer sanciones selectivas adicionales contra funcionarios del régimen por abusos de derechos humanos: "El gobierno es un instrumento del pueblo, no un instrumento para ser utilizado contra lo… Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Chairman Menendez Lauds Biden Administration’s Announcement to Increase Targeted Sanctions on Cuban Regime Officials
WASHINGTON - 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 continue its efforts to support Cuba's pro-democracy movement by imposing additional targeted sanctions on regime officials for their human rights abuses: "Government is an instrument of the people, not an instrument to be used against its own citizens. Yet, since July 11, the Díaz Canel regime has relied on … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
Declaración Conjunta del Senador Menéndez y Homólogos Europeos Condenando la Violencia y Represión del Régimen Cubano Contra las Protestas Pacíficas
WASHINGTON. - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado de los Estados Unidos, hoy fue acompañado por sus homólogos del Reino Unido, la República Checa, Estonia, Letonia y Lituania en emitir la siguiente declaración conjunta condenando la violenta represión del régimen cubano contra el movimiento pro-democracia de la isla después de que miles de cubanos salieran a la calle para pedir … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
Joint Statement from SFRC Chairman Menendez, European Foreign Affairs Chairs Condemning Cuban Regime’s Violent Repression of Peaceful Protests
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by his counterparts in the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in issuing the following joint statement to condemn the Cuban regime's violent crackdown on the island's pro-democracy movement after thousands of Cubans took to the streets to call for an end to dictatorship in their country: "We, the chairs of our respective national parliament's Foreign … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Committee Hearing on U.S. Policy Toward Turkey
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening statement at this morning's full Committee hearing on United States policy toward Turkey. Testifying before the Committee was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland. "Erdogan sees his country as on par with the great powers of the world. It's not. President Erdogan has tragically shredded its democratic institutions, imprisoned jour… Continue Reading
