Chairman's Press
Foreign Relations Committee Passes Menendez Sanctions Bill on Nicaragua
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved legislation authored by Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), imposing targeted sanctions on Nicaraguan government officials responsible for human rights violations and calling for a negotiated solution to the country's ongoing crisis. Approved by a voice vote, the amended version of the Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 (S. 3233) includes restrictions on lending to the Ortega government by international fina… Continue Reading
September 26, 2018
Menendez, Albright OpEd: Lift the refugee cap, Mr. Trump. America needs more.
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright today penned an op-ed for USA Today calling on President Trump to reverse his decision to cut the number of refugees allowed to the United States for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 to a new low of 30,000. "As a refugee who fled from fascism and communism in Europe and became America's Secretary of State, and as the son of immigrants forced to flee Cuba who is now a U.S. Senator, we find it impossible to be coldly … Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Menendez on President Trump’s U.N. General Assembly Speech
WASHINGTON-Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on President Trump's remarks before the U.N. General Assembly: "President Trump's second address before the United Nations was yet another missed opportunity to express moral clarity and promote American values and leadership on the global stage. The President's focus on nationalism continues to leave America alone and alienated from the very allies we nee… Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Menéndez Lidera Grupo Bipartidista de Senadores Con Proyecto de Ley Integral para Abordar Crisis Humanitaria y Colapso de Gobernabilidad en Venezuela
WASHINGTON, D.C. - El Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Miembro de Alto Rango del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores, y los Senadores Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Bill Nelson (D-Florida), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), y Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) anoche presentaron el Proyecto de Ley para Alivio Humanitario de Venezuela, Reconstrucción, y Estado de Derecho de 2018… Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Menendez, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Sweeping Legislation to Address the Humanitarian Crisis and Collapse of Governance in Venezuela
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Bill Nelson (D-Florida), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) last night introduced the Venezuela Humanitarian Relief, Reconstruction, and Rule of Law Act of 2018, a comprehensive bill that will expand humanita… Continue Reading
September 21, 2018
Ahead of UN Meeting, Menendez Calls on Pompeo to Release Rohingya Report
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last night sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to make public the State Department report detailing the atrocities the Myanmar government committed against the Rohingya people, and to refer the findings of the report for appropriate legal determination and action. Releasing the report now, during the ongoing session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), is an opp… Continue Reading
September 18, 2018
Menendez Calls on Trump Admin to Provide Unclassified Report on Attacks Against U.S. Diplomats in Cuba
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting that the Trump administration provide an unclassified version of the State Department's recent Accountability Review Board (ARB) report on the incidents affecting the health of U.S. personnel serving in Cuba. "I believe that an unclassified version of the ARB report is crucial to ensure that both Congress and the Executive are fully i… Continue Reading
September 18, 2018
Menendez Opening Remarks at Hearing on U.S.-Russia Arms Control Efforts
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following statement at today's committee hearing on the status of U.S.-Russia Arms Control efforts. "Thank you Mr. Chairman for convening today's hearing as part of a series of hearings on the U.S. policy towards the Russian Federation. Arms control efforts to reduce the risk of nuclear war and limit Russia's nuclear forces are vital for maintaining and strengthening U.S.… Continue Reading
September 18, 2018
Menendez Blasts Trump Administration for Lowering Refugee Cap
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday afternoon the Trump administration will cut the number of refugees allowed to the United States for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 to a new low of 30,000. "At a time when we should be defending our values ??and ideals as Americans and working to alleviate the biggest refugee crisis since World War II, it is truly … Continue Reading
September 17, 2018
Menendez Calls on Trump Administration’s to Clarify U.S. Policy on Syria and Russia’s Role
WASHINGTON D.C. - 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 clarify its policy with regard to Russia's involvement in Syria. The Senator also expressed the urgent need for a clear strategy to preempt the humanitarian crisis caused by the forces of Assad and Putin during their anticipated offensive in the province of Idlib. Below are the Senator's r… Continue Reading
September 12, 2018
Menendez Statement on Election Interference Executive Order
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to President Trump's signing of an Executive Order authorizing the imposition of additional sanctions against foreigners who attempt to interfere in U.S. elections. "I look forward to reviewing the contents of the administration's executive order," said Senator Menendez. "It is outrageous that it has taken 21 months for President Trump to begin to res… Continue Reading
August 24, 2018
Menendez, Shaheen Formally Request Relevant Documents and Interpreter Notes for Trump-Putin Summit
WASHINGTON - Over a month after President Trump's meeting and press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, where he accepted Putin's election meddling denial over American intelligence agencies, top Senate Democrats today sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally requesting all relevant documents to clarify if and what commitments the President made during the secretive and lengthy meeting. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Commit… Continue Reading
August 23, 2018
Menendez Marks One Year Anniversary of Burma’s Ethnic Cleansing Campaign Against Rohingya
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today submitted the below statement for the Senate record marking the one-year anniversary of the campaign of the Burmese military's campaign of violence and terror on Rohingya civilians. "Last August, the world watched in horror as Burma's military launched an ethnic cleansing campaign of rape, arson and mass murder against the Rohingya. Despite the Burmese military's claims that thei… Continue Reading
August 22, 2018
Menendez Leads SFRC Democrats in Advising Sec. Pompeo Against Lowering Refugee Cap
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in urging Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to decimate the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and undermine a critical U.S. foreign policy tool. In advance of a Presidential Determination that could reduce the already historically low level of refugee admissions, the Senators sent a letter urging the Secretary to support poli… Continue Reading
August 22, 2018
Menendez Statement on El Salvador Severing Ties with Taiwan
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the government of El Salvador decided to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish formal relations with China. "I am deeply concerned by the decision of the Salvadoran government -under intense pressure from Beijing-to sever ties with Taiwan. El Salvador's decision continues a troubling trend in the region, as the Salvadorans are now the third countr… Continue Reading
August 17, 2018
Menendez on Trump Administration’s Decision to End Syria Stabilization Assistance
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced on Friday it is ending $230 million in foreign assistance funds appropriated by Congress for stabilization projects in Syria. "I am dismayed to see President Trump sprinting down the path of abdicating American leadership on the global stage. By ending U.S. contributions to stabilization efforts in the most vulnerable Syr… Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Menendez Opening Remarks at Nomination Hearing for Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on the nomination of Ambassador David Hale to the position of Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs. "Thank you Mr. Chairman, and let me join you in once again welcoming Ambassador Hale before the Committee. Few diplomats have served our nation as ably and honorably as Ambassador Hale in some of our most critical dip… Continue Reading
August 15, 2018
Menendez on Pres. Trump’s Decision to Ignore Congressional Directive on Non-recognition of Russia’s Illegal Annexation of Crimea
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, published the below reaction to President Trump's dismissal of Congressional limitations in the FY19 Defense Authorization bill on recognizing Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea. "This signing statement is troubling because, yet again, the President is showing the world he cannot be trusted when it comes to standing by U.S. commitments and promoting our interests over his own. Congress agre… Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Senator Menendez Calls for Calm in Zimbabwe
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today called for calm in Zimbabwe as news emerged of a crackdown on opposition supporters. Three protesters are reported to have been killed. "The reports of the military opening fire killing three protesters is gravely disturbing. My condolences go out to the families of those slain. I urge all parties on the ground to refrain from violence. The government must call a halt to the exce… Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Menendez, Engel Lead Over 100 Members of Congress in Demanding TPS Be Reinstated for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-16), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today led a bipartisan group of 110 members of Congress in calling on the Trump Administration to reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of immigrants legally living in the United States. The letter comes after the State Department released a series of internal documents… Continue Reading
