Chairman's Press
Menéndez Convoca Foro Comunitario con Diáspora Ecuatoriana de NJ para Discutir el Futuro de la Relación Diplomática entre los Estados Unidos y Ecuador
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, ayer convocó un foro público con la diáspora ecuatoriana-estadounidense de Nueva Jersey y estudiantes de Saint Peter's University para discutir sus esfuerzos para fortalecer la floreciente relación diplomática entre los Estados Unidos y Ecuador. Acompañado por la Embajadora de la República de Ecuador en EE.UU., Ivonne Bak… Continue Reading
April 26, 2022
Chairman Menendez Opening Remarks at Committee Hearing to Consider FY 2023 State Department Budget Request
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's full Committee hearing to review the State Department's FY 2023 budget request. Testifying before the Committee was Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "As we look around the world from Cuba to Mali to Iran to China, and of course Russia, authoritarians are crushing free speech, arresting dissidents, utilizing technology to control their … Continue Reading
April 25, 2022
Menendez Hosts Community Forum with NJ’s Ecuadorian Diaspora to Discuss Future of U.S.-Ecuador Partnership
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a community forum with the Ecuadorian-American diaspora of New Jersey and students from Saint Peter's University to discuss his efforts to strengthen the flourishing relationship between the United States and Ecuador. Joined by Ecuador's Ambassador to the U.S., Ivonne Baki, Chairman Menendez recognized Ecuador's status as a key democratic partner for the U.S. and detailed h… Continue Reading
April 24, 2022
Chairman Menendez Statement on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day
Jersey City, N.J. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in observance of Armenian Genocide Memorial Day: "As we mark the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we must continue the important work of promoting education and understanding the facts of one of the darkest chapters in human history. Last year, largely due to the dedicated work of the Armenian American community in New Jersey and beyond, President … Continue Reading
April 22, 2022
Chairman Menendez, Ranking Member Risch on Russian Government’s Targeting of Opposition Activist Vladimir Kara-Murza
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following joint statement in reaction to the Russian government's new trumped up criminal charges against opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza imprisoned for sharing information about Putin's war crimes in Ukraine: "The Putin regime's new fabricated charges against Vladimir Kara-Murza are a testament to Putin's deeply held fear of the Rus… Continue Reading
April 21, 2022
Chairman Menendez on New “Uniting for Ukraine” Parole Program for Ukrainian Refugees
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 the creation of a new program called "Uniting for Ukraine" that will provide a streamlined process for Ukrainian refugees to come to the United States: "Today, President Biden took us one step closer to restoring our role as a welcoming nation that protects the most vulnerable. In establishing 'Uniting for Ukraine,' a… Continue Reading
April 14, 2022
Congressional Delegation Meets with Australian Leaders
WASHINGTON - The following joint statement was issued by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) after visiting Australia. The bipartisan, bicameral delegation met with senior leaders of the Australian government and opposition party on areas of mutual concern for both nations. "For more than seventy years, the allianc… Continue Reading
April 08, 2022
Menendez, Risch, Meeks, McCaul Statement on Staff-Level Agreement Between IMF, Lebanese Government
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in welcoming the recent staff-level agreement between the International Monetary Fund and the Lebanese government to provide the country with much-needed assistance in the midst of its financial crisis: … Continue Reading
April 08, 2022
Menendez, Risch Lead Colleagues in Unveiling Resolution Honoring Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today were joined by 16 of their Committee colleagues in introducing a resolution to celebrate the life, achievements, and legacy of former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright. In addition to commending Secretary Albright's patriotism and public service in the pursuit of a more peaceful, prosperous, and cooperative world order, the bipartisan resolu… Continue Reading
April 07, 2022
Chairman Menendez Urges UN to Prioritize the Needs of Ukrainian Women and Girls and Address Rising Concerns of Widespread Sexual Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today is calling on the United Nations to take every possible measure to respond to mounting reports of Russia's systematic use of gender-based violence (GBV) against Ukrainian women and girls and to take immediate action to address the disproportionate impact of the humanitarian crisis on women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. In a new letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
Chairman Menendez Delivers Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Treaties
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's full Committee hearing on treaties. "Today's treaty hearing comes at a time when the importance of strengthening our bonds and reinforcing the rule of law is as clear as ever," Chairman Menendez said. "Our Committee has a critical constitutional role to play in the treaty-making process, and what we do directly impacts U.S. national security, la… Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
NOAA Announces Marine Debris Foundation Board Members
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), today welcomed an announcement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the twelve appointees to the inaugural Board of Directors of the new Marine Debris Foundation. The charitable and nonprofit foundation was established by Menendez, Sullivan, and Whitehouse's Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the most comprehens… Continue Reading
April 05, 2022
Menendez, Risch Urge POTUS to Address Global Food Insecurity In Wake of Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are calling on the Biden administration to establish an interagency and international strategy for the U.S. to help mitigate the looming food security crisis spurred by Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Citing ongoing concern for countries already facing extreme food insecurity, the senators pressed the Administration to expand the reach of internat… Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Menendez, Rubio Urge Biden Administration to Extend TPS for Venezuela
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting DHS renew Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible Venezuelans. TPS provides temporary legal status and work authorization for foreign nationals who cannot return to their country of origin, and … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Menendez, Risch, Meeks, McCaul Statement on President Saied’s Tactics to Dissolve Tunisia’s Parliamentary Body
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in condemning Tunisian President Saied's attempt to dissolve the Assembly of Representatives, Tunisia's parliamentary body, which serves as the latest in a series of concerning moves that threaten Tunisi… Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Chairman Menendez Remarks at Committee Hearing: China's Role in Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following remarks at this morning's Committee hearing entitled "China's Role in Latin America and the Caribbean." Testifying before the Committee on the first panel were Ms. Kerri Hannan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Policy, Planning, and Coordination for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Mr. Peter Natiello, Senior Deputy A… Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Menendez, Risch, Colleagues Ask Biden Administration to Work with OAS Members to Revoke Russia’s Observer Status
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting he work with member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) to revoke Russia's status as a permanent observer. "In … Continue Reading
March 29, 2022
Chairman Menendez on President Biden’s FY23 Budget Request
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the national security provisions of President Joe Biden's 2023 federal budget request released on Monday: "After years of neglect under the previous administration, I'm pleased to see President Biden propose a serious investment across all elements of our national security toolkit, including an increase of more than ten percent over last year's enacted leve… Continue Reading
March 29, 2022
SFRC Approves Ethiopia Peace and Stabilization Act of 2022 with Overwhelming Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by SFRC Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Chris Coons (D-Del.) in releasing the below statements following the Committee's bipartisan approval of S. 3199, the Ethiopia Peace and Stabilization Act of 2022, at this morning's business meeting. Introduced in November 2021, the bipartisan legislation builds upon t… Continue Reading
March 29, 2022
Menendez, Risch, Colleagues Request Removal of Russia from UNHRC Due to War Crimes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) yesterday sent a letter to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield requesting she introduce a resolution at the Uni… Continue Reading
