Chairman's Press
Menendez, Durbin, Leahy Raise Concerns over Allegations of Ukraine’s Hampered Cooperation with Special Counsel Mueller
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) today sent a letter to Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko expressing concerns over allegations that he impeded cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in order to not draw the ire of President Trump. The Senators letter follows a report by the New York Times that quotes Ukrainian government officials assertin… Continue Reading
May 03, 2018
Menendez Statement on World Press Freedom Day
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in honor of World Press Freedom Day. "Freedom of the press is a fundamental human right, foundational pillar of democracy, and an indispensable check on authoritarian overreach. Today, press freedom and the safety of journalists are under threat across the globe- including in the United States. As they fight to advance truth and objectivity, far too many government… Continue Reading
May 01, 2018
Menendez Statement on Church Attack in Central African Republic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in response to reports of an attack on a church in Bangui. Media reports indicate over a dozen people dead, including a priest, and at least 100 people wounded. "The alarming outbreak of violence in the Central African Republic including the ruthless attack on a church during mass today is the latest instance of the deteriorating security situation that thre… Continue Reading
May 01, 2018
Menendez Leads Democrats in Urging Secretary Pompeo Improve Refugee Admissions as Key Foreign Policy Priority
WASHINGTON - US Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led a group of 12 Democratic senators in raising a series of concerns about the Trump Administration's refugee admissions policy, particularly the recent appointment of Andrew Veprek to be a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). A known refugee and immigration skeptic, Veprek is a close associate of President Trump's senior adviser for po… Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Menendez on Opposition to Richard Grenell’s Nomination to be Ambassador to Germany
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the below remarks on the Senate Floor on his vote against the nomination of Richard Grenell to become U.S. Ambassador to Germany. WATCH FULL SPEECH HERE His speech, as prepared for delivery, follows: "M. President, we are considering today the nomination of Richard Grenell to be our Ambassador to Germany. I opposed Mr. Grenell's nomination in committee and I will again o… Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Menendez Outlines Opposition to Pompeo Nomination in Floor Remarks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks on the Senate Floor on CIA Director Mike Pompeo's nomination to be Secretary of State. CLICK TO WATCH Below are Senator Menendez's full remarks as prepared for delivery: M. President, I rise today to express my opposition to Mike Pompeo serving as this nation's top diplomat. As I said earlier this week in committee, I am genuinely disappointed to be cast… Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Menendez on the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Central African Republic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today submitted the following statement for the Senate record calling on the Trump Administration to devise a strategy to help bring a sustainable peace to the Central African Republic (CAR) following the escalation of violence, and attacks targeting civilians and humanitarian staff in recent months. The full text of the statement is below: "Mr. President, I rise to call attention to w… Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Menendez, Kaine, Cardin Lead Democrats in Encouraging Trump Administration to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Honduras
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and 22 Democratic Senators today sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan urging them to extend Temporary Protected Status for Honduran Nationals, which is set to expire on July 5, 2018. "Ending TPS for Hondurans would force more than 86,031 individuals to go back to a country with … Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Menendez, Rubio Call for Investigation of Ortega Regime’s Violent Attacks Against Nicaraguan People, Press
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) urged Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Luis Almagro to work with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to conduct an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the recent violent attacks against civilians and censorship of media outlets in Nicaragua by the Daniel Ortega regime. The full text of the letter is below: Dea… Continue Reading
April 24, 2018
Menendez Statement for the Record on the Fifth Anniversary of the Rana Plaza Tragedy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following statement for the Senate record on April 24, the five-year anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The full text of the statement is below: Five years ago today, the Rana Plaza building collapsed in Bangladesh, tragically killing more than 1,100 people and injuring thousands more. Rana Plaza, a bustling multi-story com… Continue Reading
April 23, 2018
Menendez Casts “No” vote on Secretary of State Nominee Mike Pompeo during Senate Foreign Relations Committee Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke at today's Committee business meeting ahead of the vote for Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State. Below are Senator Menendez's full remarks as prepared for delivery: "Mr. Chairman, let me say a few things about the nominee, but before I do let me just say that Democrats on this committee have worked overwhelmingly with you in moving nominations, in being constructively a part of hear… Continue Reading
April 19, 2018
Menendez Statement for the Record on Cuba’s Undemocratic Leadership Transition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following statement for the Senate record after Cuba's National Assembly replaced Raul Castro with his handpicked successor Miguel Diaz-Canel. M. President. I rise today to address Cuba's undemocratic leadership transition and its implications for the Cuban people and U.S. foreign policy. Today, in a highly scripted process, Cuba's National Assembly replaced Raul C… Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
Menendez Announces Opposition to Pompeo Nomination During Think Tank Speech on Defending American Values at Home and Abroad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke this morning at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In outlining the role of Congress in both promoting America's interests abroad and conducting effective oversight of the Trump Administration's impulse-driven foreign policy approach, Menendez announced he would vote against the nomination of Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State. "During his confirmation heari… Continue Reading
April 17, 2018
Menendez Opening Statement at Hearing Examining U.S. Policy on Yemen
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the below statement, as prepared for delivery, at today's hearing on "U.S. Policy on Yemen." "Thank you, Chairman Corker, for convening this important hearing and inviting witnesses from the State and Defense Departments, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development, to testify. Given our Committee's jurisdiction over the execution of U.S. foreign policy and the S… Continue Reading
April 13, 2018
Menendez Calls on USAID to Explain Alleged Gender Pay
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green to express his concerns over alleged pay inequities at the development agency. "As I know you agree, building a diverse USAID workforce that draws on the talents of all Americans regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation is critical to mission success,"… Continue Reading
April 13, 2018
Menendez Pens Letter to Mueller Following Pompeo Nomination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last night sent a letter to Special Counsel Robert Mueller after Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo refused on Thursday to answer any questions about what he discussed with the Special Counsel and whether the President asked him to interfere with then FBI Director Comey's investigation into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia. In his responses to Senator Menendez, Pompeo public… Continue Reading
April 13, 2018
Menendez Leads Democrats in Encouraging Vice President Pence to Adopt an “Americas Together” Policy at the Summit of Americas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 13 Democratic Senators sent a letter to Vice President Pence expressing concern about the Administration's policy towards the Western Hemisphere, and urging him to adopt an "Americas together" policy in lieu of the divisive "America First" policy at the 2018 Summit of Americas. Joining Menendez in sending the letter were Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Elizabeth War… Continue Reading
April 13, 2018
Menendez Reacts to Military Airstrikes in Syria
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump ordered the United States to launch strikes on Syria in response to the latest alleged chemical attack on civilians by Bashar al-Assad. "The Assad regime and its backers must be held accountable for the use of chemical weapons. Tonight's announcement of airstrikes in cooperation with the British and French military underscores the… Continue Reading
April 12, 2018
Opening Remarks by Senator Menendez at Pompeo Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following statement at today's hearing on the nomination of Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery: "Mr. Director, congratulations on your nomination and welcome to your second Senate confirmation hearing. "This Committee considers your nomination after a nearly a year and a half of reckoning with President Trump's erratic … Continue Reading
April 10, 2018
Menendez Statement on Trump Canceling Plans to Attend Summit of the Americas
WASHINGTON-Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump announced he was canceling his plans to attend the 8th Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru. "The President's decision not to attend the Summit of the Americas is yet another retreat of U.S. leadership in our own hemisphere. In abandoning the bipartisan tradition of U.S. presidents attending this critical gathering, President Trump is losing a… Continue Reading
