Chairman's Press
Menendez, Graham, Murphy, Barrasso Urge Pres. Trump to Support a Peaceful Political Solution to Crisis in Libya
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined today by Senators Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in sending a letter calling on President Donald Trump to publicly express support for a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the ongoing crisis in Libya. The senators asked the President to reaffirm the United States' historical position of promoting a negotiated, UN-backed political process. N… Continue Reading
May 24, 2019
Menendez on Trump Admin’s Decision to Flout Congress’ Role in Approving Arm Sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the Trump Administration formally informed Congress that it is invoking an obscure provision of the Arms Export Control Act to eliminate the statutorily-required Congressional review of the sales of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others, but failed to explain its legal or practical basis for doing so. The unprecede… Continue Reading
May 24, 2019
Leading Lawmakers Unveil Congressional Oversight Framework for the Potential Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula
WASHINGTON - Congressional national security leaders unveiled legislation to provide stringent congressional oversight of U.S. diplomacy with North Korea and any agreement that emerges from the Trump Administration's engagement with Kim Jong Un. The bipartisan North Korea Policy Oversight Act of 2019 was introduced today in the Senate by Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and in the House of Representatives by Rep… Continue Reading
May 23, 2019
Menendez on Reports that the Trump Admin Plans to Sell Arms to Foreign Governments without Congress’ Approval
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to reports that the Trump Administration is considering bypassing Congressional review for proposed arm sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE. There has been a long-standing process in place and in law for decades to ensure that the Congress is able to review and disapprove arms sales to countries about which it has concerns. "I am deeply concerned about… Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Menendez Opening Remarks at Classified Hearing on Afghanistan Peace Talks
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the start of a classified hearing this morning titled, "The Reconciliation Process in Afghanistan," which featured testimony by the Trump Administration's Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad: "Mr. Chairman, thank you for calling this important hearing on the peace process in Afghanistan. Let me be clear at the outset. I want… Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes Menendez-Rubio Uyghur Human Rights Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), today released the following statements after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee marked up their bipartisan Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act: "Today we are all Uyghurs, and China's horrific and systematic abuse of its Uyghur minority is an affront to all people who value the principles of universal human rights, and Beijing's imposition of systemic mass surve… Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Comité del Senado Aprueba Proyecto de Ley Integral para Ayudar a Reestablecer la Democracia en Venezuela
WASHINGTON - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, y el Senador Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) celebraron la aprobación del comité del proyecto de ley Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance and Development Act (VERDAD, por sus siglas en inglés) el esfuerzo más robusto hasta la fecha para enfrentar la crisis en Venezuela. El proyecto de ley bipartidista ahora deberá ser co… Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Senate Committee Approves Comprehensive Legislation to Help Restore Democracy in Venezuela
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today praised committee passage of the Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development (VERDAD) Act, the most comprehensive effort to date to confront the crisis in Venezuela. The bipartisan legislation will now move forward to be considered by the full Senate. "Today, the United States takes a momentous step to support the Venezuelan people in… Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Menendez Lauds Committee Passage of Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement following committee passage of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019. The legislation, authored initially by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot L. Engel, seeks to impose new sanctions on Syria's Assad regime and its supporters, recognizes the importance of assistance activities, supports efforts to document war crimes, and encourages a p… Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Menendez Bill to Help Combat Ebola Outbreak in Congo Approved by Senate Committee
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led the committee in passing his bill to improve the U.S. government's ability to fight the deadly outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Ebola Eradication Act of 2019 instructs the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide assistance aimed at improving responders' access to communities affected by Ebola notwithstanding any other pr… Continue Reading
May 20, 2019
Nearly 400 Lawmakers Call on Trump to Address Threats in Syria
WASHINGTON- A group of nearly 400 members of the United States Congress today called on President Trump to demonstrate American leadership in resolving the prolonged conflict in Syria. In a letter led by Senators Robert Menendez and James Risch, Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representatives Eliot L. Engel and Michael T. McCaul, Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators called on … Continue Reading
May 17, 2019
Menendez Statement for the Record on the Tenth Anniversary of the End of the Sri Lankan Civil War
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following statement for the Senate record this week commemorating the tenth anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. In his remarks, the Senator also urges Sri Lankans to continue on the path of peace and reconciliation following last month's terrorist attacks. "Mr. President, May 18th marks the 10th anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. In May 2009, … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Menendez Statement for the Senate Record on Violence in Syria
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following statement for the Senate record denouncing the brutal campaign being waged by the Assad regime and its supporters in the Syrian provinces of Idlib and Hama: "Today I rise to bring attention to the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian backers' latest assault on innocent civilians under a rain of airstrikes and barrel bombs, which has sparked the worst violence in a ye… Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Menendez Slams Trump Admin Official for Dodging Questions on Russia’s Nuclear Capabilities to Target U.S.
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, confronted Trump Administration officials at a committee hearing this morning titled, "the Future of Arms Control Post-Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty." In his questioning of Andrea Thompson, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security at the State Department, Menendez blasted the Trump Administration for skirting Congress's oversight efforts around their strategy for t… Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Menendez Expresses Concern to Pompeo on Efforts by Dominican President to Seek Third Term in Office
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, asking him to use diplomatic tools to support democratic governance in the Dominican Republic as President Danilo Medina seeks to modify his country's constitution in order to run for an unprecedented third term. "Amid increased threats to democracy throughout the world, the United States must demonstrate its commitment to defending democratic n… Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Menendez Statement on Iran Tensions
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks addressing the Trump Administration's latest actions on Iraq and Iran during his opening statement at a committee hearing exploring the future of arms control: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I turn to the topic of the hearing, I must address the Trump Administration's latest actions on Iraq and Iran. This morning, I woke up to the news that the Administration … Continue Reading
May 13, 2019
Menendez Cautions Pompeo: Putin Meeting Cannot Mean ‘Business as Usual’ with Russia after Mueller Report
WASHINGTON - With U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Russian Federation tomorrow, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter urging the Secretary to increase pressure on Moscow for its continued brazen aggression against the United States and other democracies around the world. "For the sake of our national security, I implore the adminis… Continue Reading
May 13, 2019
Menendez, Warner Urge Trump Admin Not to Cede Leadership in Developing Global Rules for Artificial Intelligence
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling attention to China's efforts to be the leading country driving the development of standards and norms related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Senators urged the Secretary to strengthen the Trump Administration's diplomatic efforts around e… Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Menendez, Risch, Rubio, Shaheen, Express Concern for Democratic Erosion in Hungary, Ask Trump to Raise Issues with Orban
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), senior members of the committee, today sent a letter to President Trump to express their concern over Hungary's downward democratic trajectory and the implications for U.S. interests in Central Europe. President Trump is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungar… Continue Reading
May 08, 2019
Menendez Opening Remarks at Hearing on USAID Budget Request
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following remarks at a hearing examining the Trump Administration's proposed FY 2020 budget for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which featured testimony from USAID Administrator Mark Green: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Administrator Green, for your service and for appearing before the Committee this morning. Immense chal… Continue Reading
