Chairman's Press
Kerry Supports Lael Brainard as Next Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), senior member of the Finance Committee and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, today urged the swift confirmation of President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, Lael Brainard. "Eight months of a vetting process is more than enough when no questions persist. In fact, questions and questions have been answered, and answered, and answered, and they have been answered sati… Continue Reading
November 17, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Global Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "The U.S. and the G-20: Remaking the International Economic Architecture": We are honored to have Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner here with us today to address the future of the G20, the IMF, the World Bank, and America's role in remaking our global financial architecture. It has been almost a decade since a Treasury Secretary last address… Continue Reading
November 17, 2009
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009
Washington, D.C.--- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), along with Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Bob Corker (R-TN),Senator James Risch (R-ID)and SenatorBen Cardin (D-MD), released the statements below following today's business meeting where the Committee ordered reported by a roll call vote, S.1524, the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009. "I am pleased to join with many of my colleag… Continue Reading
November 10, 2009
Chairman Kerry Welcomes The Formation Of A Government Of National Unity In Lebanon
Washington, D.C.-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to the formation of a coalition unity government in Lebanon: "I would like to congratulate the people of Lebanon on yesterday's news that a government has been presented by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and accepted by President Michel Suleiman. As time-consuming and complicated as negotiations have been, Prime Minister Hariri and President Suleiman have never wa… Continue Reading
November 02, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah's decision to withdraw from the runoff presidentialelection and the Afghan Election Committee's decision to cancel the runoff and declare President Hamid Karzai the winner of the 2009 presidential contest: "This is one of many critical moments for Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai deserves credit for his willingness to engage in … Continue Reading
October 30, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On The Ongoing Crisis In Honduras
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry released the following statement today in response to yesterday's developments in the Honduran negotiations. "I welcome the initiative taken by Roberto Michiletti yesterday in his phone call to Costa Rican President Oscar Arias," said Chairman Kerry. Michiletti reportedly expressed his support for the San Jose process and discussed refinements to the San Jose Accord, which calls for President Zelaya's conditioned … Continue Reading
October 30, 2009
Kerry Applauds Resolution To Return President Zelaya To Power in Honduras
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today in response to Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti reaching an agreement to return President Zelaya to power: "I welcome the agreement ending the crisis in Honduras. The restoration of democracy is an historic accomplishment for the Honduran people . The accord provides a roadmap for elections on November 29, but success will depen… Continue Reading
October 30, 2009
Kerry Applauds End of Discriminatory Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the long overdue enactment of his legislation by the Obama Administration to finally end a travel ban that prevented those with HIV from entering the United States. Since 1987, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) contained a provision to bar HIV positive individuals from travelling or immigrating to the US, including HIV positive doctors and experts, as well as refugees … Continue Reading
October 28, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On Brother Of Afghan President Karzai
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chairman Kerry released the following statement today in response to news reports about Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai: "Senior American officials have told me repeatedly that there is no hard evidence linking Ahmed Wali Karzai to drug trafficking. However, after reading press accounts which allege that Mr. Karzai has been on the payroll of the CIA, one of the agencies gathering intelligence about narcotics trafficking in Afghanist… Continue Reading
October 26, 2009
Excerpts From Senator John Kerry's Speech On Afghanistan
The Current Debate Is Fundamentally Flawed "In recent weeks, politics has reduced an extraordinarily complex country and mission to a simple, headline-ready "yes or no" on troop numbers. That debate is completely at odds with reality. What we need, above all, what our troops deserve-- and what we haven't had-- is a comprehensive strategy, military and civilian combined." A Smarter Approach "I am convinced from my conversations with General Stanley McChrystal that he understands the nec… Continue Reading
October 26, 2009
Chairman Kerry Delivers Speech On Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations' Washington, DC office today titled, "Afghanistan: Defining the Possibilities." Below are Chairman Kerry's remarks, as delivered: Thank you, David, for your kind introduction and more importantly for your terrific reporting over the years. David's most recent book, The Inheritance, makes the point that while President Obama took office with great prom… Continue Reading
October 23, 2009
Kerry Condemns Nicaraguan Power Grab
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement today in response to a Nicaraguan Supreme Court ruling to allow President Daniel Ortega to seek another term: "Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's manipulation of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court this week to circumvent constitutional limits on his term in office reeks of the authoritarianism of the past. Coming on the heels of universally condemned municipal elect… Continue Reading
October 22, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On NATO
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "NATO: A Strategic Concept for Transatlantic Security": Today we will discuss the future of our NATO alliance. Earlier this week in Afghanistan, I saw firsthand NATO's single largest present-day commitment. And let me tell you, whatever our differences, our allies have made enormous sacrifices in Afghanistan. They, too, are serving heroically.… Continue Reading
October 20, 2009
Chairman Kerry Welcomes Announcement On Sudan Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chairman John Kerry, who traveled to Sudan in April 2009 to meet with government officials, humanitarian workers, and Darfuris living in displaced persons camps, today released a statement on the Obama Administration's announcement of its Sudan policy: "I support the comprehensive Sudan policy announced today by the President and Secretary of State. This strategy, which will be spearheaded by the United States Special Envoy, General Scott Gration, both emphasizes the … Continue Reading
October 14, 2009
Chairman Kerry And Chairman Berman Release Joint Explanatory Statement To Accompany Enhanced Partnership With Pakistan Act Of 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today at a joint press availability, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, House Foreign Relations Chairman Howard L. Berman and Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi announced the release of a joint explanatory statement to accompany Senate Bill 1707, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009. Chairman Kerry made the following remarks at today's press availability: "In order to set the record straight, Chairman Berman and I are today submitting a Joint Exp… Continue Reading
October 08, 2009
Separating Myth from Fact onThe Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009
The United States wants to transform its relationship with Pakistan into a deeper, broader, long-term strategic engagement with the people of Pakistan. The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S.1707), also known as the Kerry-Lugar bill, was designed to help turn the page in our bilateral relationship by moving beyond a military relationship to one where the United States engages directly with the people of Pakistan as a true ally and friend. The heart of this bill gives the people… Continue Reading
October 07, 2009
Chairman Kerry: Empower Pakistanis now
As President Barack Obama urged Muslims to reject violent extremism in Cairo last week, a decisive shift in attitudes was already under way in Pakistan. Over the past month, the Pakistani military has waged an intensive fight against the Taliban and extremist elements in its North-West Frontier Province. This shift could be a major turning point in Pakistan's history and is a critical moment for Congress to support the Pakistani people by passing the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan A… Continue Reading
October 07, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing on Confronting Al-Qaeda
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "Confronting Al-Qaeda: Understanding the Threat in Afghanistan and Beyond". Full text as delivered is below: We come together today, on -- by happenstance on the exact eighth anniversary of our entry -- ninth anniversary, really. We begin the ninth year of the war in Afghanistan -- ninth year. If my memory serves me right, I think the war in … Continue Reading
October 01, 2009
Kerry On Iran: Diplomacy, Backed By Pressure, Remains The Best Course
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) authored the following op-ed in today's Financial Times titled "Time for Diplomacy to End the Stand-off With Iran." The full text of the op-ed is below: Time for diplomacy to end the stand-off with Iran By John Kerry October 1, 2009 Today the Obama administration begins the most important American diplomatic engagement with Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The public revelation of the Qom enrichment … Continue Reading
October 01, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Global Violence Against Women
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "Violence Against Women: Global Costs and Consequences": We are here today to talk about violence against women, a subject that is too often separated from our larger discussion about global instability, insecurity and violence. We did some research, and this is the first time that violence against women, on a global scale, has been the subject… Continue Reading
