Chairman's Press
Menendez Statement for the Record on Reuters Journalists Detained in Burma
NEWARK - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following statement for the Senate record urging the Government of Burma to drop the charges against Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, two Reuters reporters who have been arrested on account of their journalistic efforts and face up to 14 years in prison. "Today I rise to highlight the profound injustice of the formal charging and ongoing detention of two democracy defenders in Burma. Reute… Continue Reading
July 19, 2018
Senators Introduce Bill Demanding Turkey End Unjust Detention of US Citizens
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation with Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) to restrict loans from international financial institutions to Turkey until the Turkish government ends the unjust detention of U.S. citizens. In 2016, Turkey imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson a… Continue Reading
July 19, 2018
Menendez Announces New Comprehensive Sanctions Legislation Against Russia
CLICK TO WATCH WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced he would introduce comprehensive legislation in the coming days to strengthen and impose new sanctions on Russia. Today's announcement comes over eleven months after Congress overwhelmingly passed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), legislation requiring wide-ranging mandatory sanctions to hold Russia accountable for their destabil… Continue Reading
July 19, 2018
Schumer, Menendez, Durbin, And Schatz Urge Immediate Senate Passage Of New Resolution Affirming Congress’ Opposition To Making Available Former U.S. Ambassador To Russia McFaul And Other Current And Former U.S. Officials To Questioning By Government Of Vladimir Putin
Washington, D.C. - Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Ranking Member Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) today announced and called for the immediate Senate-passage of a new resolution affirming the Congress' opposition to making available former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul and other current and former U.S. officials to questioning by the government of Vladimir Putin. The… Continue Reading
July 18, 2018
Menéndez, Cruz y Colegas Presentan Propuesta Bipartidista para Abordar Crisis en Nicaragua
WASHINGTON - El día de hoy, el Senador Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Miembro de Más Alto Rango del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, fue acompañado por los Senadores Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) Ben Cardin (D-Md.) y Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) en presentar un proyecto de ley bipartidista para atender la creciente crisis en Nicaragua. El proyecto d… Continue Reading
July 18, 2018
Menendez, Cruz, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Crisis in Nicaragua
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, was joined by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to address the escalating crisis in Nicaragua. The Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 requires the imposition of san… Continue Reading
July 17, 2018
National Security Democratic Senate Leaders Pen Letter to Trump Demanding Details on Putin Summit
WASHINGTON - Following President Trump's meeting and press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, where he accepted Putin's election meddling denial, top Senate Democrats tonight sent a letter to President Trump listing a series of questions to clarify if and what commitments he made to Putin during their secretive and lengthy meeting. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senate Democra… Continue Reading
July 16, 2018
Menendez Statement on Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit
NEWARK - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump sided with Vladimir Putin in rejecting the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia hacked the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help him win. "The incoherent and appallingly self-serving circus in Helsinki today was as predictable as it was avoidable. The President rejected his solemn duty to uphold and defend American va… Continue Reading
July 16, 2018
Menendez, Engel Statement on Trump-Putin Summit and Syria
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, this morning released the following statement: "We are profoundly concerned that unilateral U.S. concessions regarding a tenable path forward in Syria will further undermine civilian protection, empower Iran, and jeopardize Israel's security. We therefore call on President Trump to reject any Russia… Continue Reading
July 13, 2018
Menendez Statement on New Charges Against Russian Spies for 2016 Election Interference
NEWARK - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers charging them with hacking offenses related to the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign: "In light of today's indictment, and if the President is going to persist in attending a summit with Vladimir Putin, he must take the forceful but necessary steps to stand up for the United States and… Continue Reading
July 10, 2018
VIDEO: Menendez Rebukes Pres. Trump Ahead of NATO and Putin Summits
WASHINGTON -Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined today by a group of his Democratic colleagues in speaking on the Senate Floor to express their support for the NATO alliance and against Russia's ongoing aggressions across the world. The Senator laid out his expectations for President Trump's travel to Europe, where he is scheduled to attend a NATO Summit in Brussels and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. Below ar… Continue Reading
July 10, 2018
In Advance of NATO and Trump-Putin Summits, Bipartisan Group of Senators Reiterate Importance of Continuing Sanctions on Russia for Invading Crimea
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rob Portman (R-Ohio.), co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today led a group of eight of their Senate colleagues in introducing a Senate Resolution condemning the Russian Federation's ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea. The bipartisan resolution comes ahead of President Trump's scheduled trip to Europe, where he will attend a NATO Summit in Brussels as well as meet with Russian Pre… Continue Reading
July 09, 2018
On South Sudan’s Independence Day, Menendez Urges the Trump Administration to Redouble its Efforts to Help End Civil War
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 marking South Sudan's Independence Day and urging the Trump Administration to intensify its engagement to find a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. "Today, July 9, is South Sudan's Independence Day. Instead of celebrating the seventh birthday of the world's newest nation, we find ourselves lamenting the … Continue Reading
July 02, 2018
Ahead of Trump-Putin and NATO Summits, Leading Senate Democrats Warn President Trump Against Diminishing Alliances While Embracing Adversaries
WASHINGTON - Ahead of President Trump's scheduled trip to Europe for a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit and a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, top Senate Democrats laid out their expectations for President Trump to stay focused on reaffirming America's commitment to our longstanding transatlantic NATO allies and against Russia's aggressions around the world. In a letter signed by Senators Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Commi… Continue Reading
July 02, 2018
Menendez Statement on Presidential Elections in Mexico
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the presidential election results in Mexico. "I congratulate the Mexican people for turning out in historic numbers to exercise their most fundamental democratic right. I look forward to working with President-Elect Lopez Obrador to more closely cooperate on issues pertinent to the well-being of both nations, including combatting graft, protectin… Continue Reading
June 29, 2018
Menendez Applauds Passage of Senate Resolution of Ratification for the Marrakesh Treaty
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement following the passage of the resolution of ratification for the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled: "I am very pleased that the Senate has consented to this critically important Treaty, which will break down barriers that have prevented those with disabilities fr… Continue Reading
June 29, 2018
Menendez Welcomes Armenian President to U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON - Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations, met with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian at a National Committee of America (ANCA) Congressional Celebration of a Century of U.S.-Armenian Relations. "I was proud to welcome President Armen Sarkissian to the United States Senate. The United States and Armenia have a strong bond based on shared values and a commitment to the democratic process. In recent months, the people … Continue Reading
June 28, 2018
Menendez Reacts to State Department’s 2018 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 2018 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report by the U.S. State Department. "The State Department missed yet another opportunity to restore the Trafficking in Persons Report to what it once was - the gold standard for unbiased, accurate reporting on countries' efforts to end the scourge of human trafficking. While I applaud s… Continue Reading
June 28, 2018
As VP Pence Visits Guatemala, Menendez, Durbin, Kaine Encourage U.S. Commitment to Address Root Causes Forcing People to Flee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) today sent a letter to Vice President Michael Pence encouraging him to use his visit to Central America to emphasize U.S. commitment to addressing the root causes of violence, instability, and poverty compelling people to migrate to the United States. "U.S. engagement with governments, civil society, and security forces in the region has, and … Continue Reading
June 28, 2018
Menendez Demands More Answers from Trump Admin Before Letting Arms Sales to United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia Move Forward
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced he needs more answers before letting the Trump Administration move forward with a proposed sale of tens of thousands of precision-guided munitions (PGM) kits to be used by the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen. "I am not confident that these weapons sales will be utilized strategically as effective leverage to push back on Iran's actions in … Continue Reading
