Chairman's Press
Menendez Questions Intent and Impact of Trump Admin’s New Commission on Unalienable Rights
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally launched a new Commission on Unalienable Rights within the State Department. Described as a new body to advise the Secretary of State on human rights in U.S. foreign policy, the Trump Administration's new body will purportedly provide "fresh thinking about human rights" and propose reforms of human rights discourse… Continue Reading
July 02, 2019
Menendez Demands Investigation into Reports that UAE Illegally Gave US Arms to Libyan Militants
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in response to a New York Times report about the United Arab Emirates' alleged transfer of US-origin Javelin missiles to the insurgent Libyan militia led by Khalifa Haftar. Senator Menendez demanded that the State Department's Inspector General immediately conduct a full investigation and stated that the State Department may be obligated to termina… Continue Reading
June 28, 2019
Following Latest Chummy Meeting with Putin, Menendez Demands Trump Admin Preserve All Records for Congressional Oversight
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this morning demanded the Trump Administration take the necessary steps to preserve all records related to any meeting or interaction between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. In separate letters to President Trump and Secretary of State Pompeo, Menendez requested all preparatory materials, notes, transcripts, readouts, memoranda, communications, and o… Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Menendez Statement on Situation in Tunisia Following Suicide Attacks
WASHINGTON -Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi was rushed to the hospital following twin suicide attacks in the capital city of Tunis. "In the wake of today's terror attacks and concerning news regarding President Essebsi's health, we must continue to stand with the Tunisian people as they continue their fight against terrorism and continue building a democratic, incl… Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Menendez Statement on Senate Voting to End Arms Restrictions against Cyprus
WASHINGTON -Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate included a provision to lift the decades-old arms restrictions against the Republic of Cyprus as part of the final FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) approved today. The lifting of these restrictions is an important part of a broader initiative to reshape the United States' strategy in the eastern Mediterranean region being spearheaded … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Menendez Clarifies Defense Authorization Bill Cannot be Misinterpreted by Trump Admin as an Authorization for War
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J., Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke on the Senate Floor as the Senate continues to debate the fiscal 2020 defense authorization bill. In outlining his support for an amendment reiterating the ability of the U.S. Armed forces to defend themselves, Menendez made clear President Trump will still need the Senate Foreign Relations Committee-- and Congress as a whole-- to issue an Authorization for Use of Military Force … Continue Reading
June 26, 2019
Menendez, Democrats Call on Trump to Help Venezuelans by Granting them Temporary Protected Status
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led a group of 20 senators in writing a letter to President Trump, urging his administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans fleeing the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in their home country. Established by the U.S. Congress through the Immigration Act of 1990, TPS is a renewable program that provides relief from deportation and access to a work permit… Continue Reading
June 26, 2019
Menendez, Whitehouse, Sullivan Launch New Bipartisan Effort to Combat Marine Debris
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign relations Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today led colleagues from both sides of the aisle in launching a new effort to combat marine debris. At a news conference this morning in the Senate Radio-Television Gallery, the Senators unveiled the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to address the plastic debris crisis that threatens coastal economies and harms marine life. The Save Our Seas… Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Menendez Bill to Reshape U.S. Strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean Approved by Foreign Relations Committee
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved legislation authored by Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J), which would update the United States' strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean to meet new challenges and opportunities in that region. The Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 would allow the U.S. to fully support the trilateral partnership of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus through energy and defense cooperation initiatives-including by lifting t… Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Saudi Arabia False Emergencies Act Approved by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) issued the following statement after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved their bipartisan legislation limiting the ability of the President to skip Congressional approval of proposed arms sales by invoking an "emergency." The Saudi Arabia False Emergencies (SAFE) Act restricts the cir… Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Menendez Statement on State Department’s 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to the publication of the 2019 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report by the U.S. State Department. "The Trafficking in Persons report is a crucial part of the United States' commitment to advancing the fight to end the scourge of modern day slavery. While this year's report shows some improvement over past years in its assessment of global human t… Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Menendez Leads Democrats in Marking World Refugee Day with Senate Resolution
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led a group of twenty-seven Democratic senators in introducing a Senate Resolution commemorating June 20th as World Refugee Day. The effort draws attention to the ongoing global refugee crisis and reaffirms the United States' commitment to provide support for the world's refugees and the countries that host them. "Today, on World Refugee Day, we find ourselves in the midst of the worst re… Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Menendez Speaks Ahead of Senate Passage of his 22 Resolutions Blocking Trump Admin’s Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor ahead of a series of votes on his 22 joint resolutions of disapproval to block the Trump Administration's unprecedented attempt to push through over $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE based on a false emergency and without Congressional consent. Following this speech, the Senate voted in support of blocking the sales. "Mr. Presid… Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Menendez Announces Deal Clearing Path for Senate to Disapprove Trump Admin’s Saudi and UAE Arm Sales
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on the Senate Floor this afternoon to announce he had reached a Unanimous Consent agreement with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that will provide for votes tomorrow on his 22 joint resolutions of disapproval to block the Trump Administration's unprecedented attempt at approving over $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi and UAE based on a false emergency and without Congressional… Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Menendez Officially Starts Process for Senate to Block Trump Admin’s Proposed Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this morning spoke on the Senate Floor to officially start the process of consideration for the Senate to use privileged authorities to block the Trump Administration's unprecedented attempt at approving over $8 billion in arms sales to Saudi and UAE without Congressional consent. Menendez was joined earlier this month by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Rand Paul … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Menendez, Risch, Rubio, Cardin, Reintroduce Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today reintroduced the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, bipartisan legislation that would reaffirm U.S. commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law at a time when Hong Kong's autonomy is under assault by interference from the Chinese government and Com… Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Menendez Remarks in Support of Senate Debate of Resolutions of Disapproval for Arm Sales to Bahrain, Qatar
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks on the Senate Floor on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval by Senator Rand Paul that seek to block proposed arms sales to Bahrain and Qatar. In his remarks, the Senator announced that though he would ultimately oppose the disapproval of the sales, he would vote in support of Senator Paul's right to seek full consideration by the Senate. Today's vote comes ahead … Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Menendez, Leahy, Durbin, Shaheen, Coons Raise Alarm over Trump Administration’s Plans to Redefine Human Rights through New Commission
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined today by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) in calling on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to refrain from taking any additional steps to establish the recently announced Commission on Unalienable Rights without first providing Congress the necessary information about the process and true intent behind the Commission. … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Menendez Asks Sec. Mnuchin to Explain Attempts at Changing International Tax Treaties
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin regarding the highly irregular process by which the Trump Administration has attempted to alter tax treaties between the United States and the governments of Switzerland, Spain, Luxembourg, Japan, Chile, Hungary, and Poland without first going through proper channels of Congressional oversight. "Regretfully, the Administration's engagement with … Continue Reading
June 06, 2019
Menendez Remarks at Hearing on the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following statement at the opening of a committee hearing titled, "Rule By Fear: 30 Years After Tiananmen Square." "Thank you Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our three witnesses. The 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre provides an important opportunity to discuss human rights in China and the importance of a values-driven American foreign policy. Indeed, the events … Continue Reading
