Chairman's Press
Kerry, Lugar, Menendez, Corker Introduce Legislation To Reform Foreign Aid
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), along with Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Bob Corker (R-TN) today introduced legislation aimed at initiating the foreign aid reform process. Senators James Risch (R-ID) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), also members of the Committee, joined as original cosponsors. The Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009, S.1524, is an important first step toward comprehensive foreign … Continue Reading
July 14, 2009
Chairman Kerry Applauds Presidential Statement On Framework For U.S.- Russian Arms Reduction
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement after today's signing of the Joint Understanding for the START follow-on treaty by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev: "I applaud President Obama and Russian President Medvedev for agreeing to negotiate an arms control treaty that will reduce the size of our two countries' arsenals of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and strategic delivery vehicles to the… Continue Reading
June 26, 2009
Chairman Kerry's Statement on Honduras Escalating Constitutional Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry (D-MA) today expressed concern about the growing tension in Honduras over an unofficial vote, scheduled for Sunday, intended to build public support for rewriting the Honduran Constitution. "America values its longstanding partnership with Honduras, but a push to rewrite the constitution over the objections of Honduras's top court, legislature, attorney general, and military is deeply disturbing," said Chairman Ke… Continue Reading
June 19, 2009
Senate Passes Resolution Calling for Free and Fair Elections in Albania
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leading into the final week before Albania's parliamentary elections, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), along with Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), issued the following joint statement announcing the Senate's passage of a resolution recognizing Albania's democratic achievements: "America's vested interest in Albania did not end with th… Continue Reading
June 16, 2009
Kerry, Lugar Call For Swift Passage Of Enhanced Partnership of Pakistan Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee released the following statements after the markup of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, also known as the Kerry-Lugar Bill. Chairman Kerry said, "This is a critical moment for Pakistan, and that's why I'm so glad the Kerry-Lugar Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act was voted out of the Foreign Relations Committee today. This was a strong, bipart… Continue Reading
June 15, 2009
Chairman Kerry Addresses Council on Foreign Relations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered a speech today titled, "Climate Change and American Foreign Policy: Security Challenges, Diplomatic Opportunities," at the New York City headquarters of the Council on Foreign Relations. His speech focused on the national security challenges of global climate change. Full text as prepared is below: I'm thrilled that Tom Brokaw could moderate our discussion today. He's a good friend. He's one of our … Continue Reading
June 10, 2009
Kerry, Lugar, Casey, Brown, Brownback, Leahy Mark The End To Sri Lanka's Civil War
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs and Senators Brown (D-OH), Brownback (R-KS) and Leahy (D-VT) joined to release the following statement today in response to Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, declaring an end to the decades long civil war: "We welcome the news that … Continue Reading
June 07, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On The Lebanese Elections
Washington, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement in response Lebanon's successful parliamentary elections: "Today's parliamentary elections marked a significant step forward for democracy in Lebanon. The people of Lebanon should be commended for rejecting violence and showing their commitment to legitimate political discourse with a spirited campaign and high voter turnout. "If early results hold, the leaders of the… Continue Reading
June 06, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On The 65th Anniversary of D-Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement commemorating the 65th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy (D-Day): "Sixty-five years later we remain a country in awe of the heroism of the young men who stormed the beaches of Normandy to fight and die so others could be free. There is no greater example of America's values and commitment than the sacrifice those young men made for their country and the world and… Continue Reading
June 03, 2009
Chairman Kerry Urges Larger US-Pakistan Relief Effort For The Humanitarian Crisis In Pakistan
WASHINGTON, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation among Pakistanis displaced by fighting in the Swat Valley: "The humanitarian crisis in Swat gets worse every day, which is why it's so critical that the government of Pakistan and the Obama Administration undertake immediate joint relief operations modeled on our successful efforts following the 2005 Kashmir ear… Continue Reading
May 19, 2009
Kerry Says Strengthened Fuel Standards "Shot Heard Round the World" in Global Climate Battle
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, today praised the Obama administration for its plan to establish the first ever nationwide regulation for greenhouse gases. Obama also called for increasing fuel economy standards for new cars and light trucks and pushing up the timeline for implementing those standards. "This will be a shot heard round the world in the battle against climate change and it will reverberate around the globe as w… Continue Reading
May 19, 2009
Chairman Kerry Welcomes Humanitarian Aid Package For Pakistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), released the following statement today in response to the Administration's decision to provide Pakistan more than $100 million in humanitarian support: "I applaud the Administration's pledge of more than $100 million in humanitarian aid for Pakistanis displaced by the violence in Swat valley. Last week, in a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Pakistan, I strongly urged Special Representative Richar… Continue Reading
May 19, 2009
Chairman Kerry Welcomes Humanitarian Aid Package For Pakistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), released the following statement today in response to the Administration's decision to provide Pakistan more than $100 million in humanitarian support: "I applaud the Administration's pledge of more than $100 million in humanitarian aid for Pakistanis displaced by the violence in Swat valley. Last week, in a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Pakistan, I strongly urged Special Representative Richar… Continue Reading
May 12, 2009
Chairman Kerry On Poison Attacks Against Girls in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to news reports of extremists conducting poison attacks on girls schools in Afghanistan: "I am deeply troubled by reports of poison attacks on school girls in Afghanistan, endangering hundreds of students and teachers. Today's attack on girls in a school in Kapisa province follows two recent attacks on school girls in the nearby town of Charikar in Parvan … Continue Reading
May 05, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On The Situation In Georgia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement on the attempted munity in Georgia: "It is our understanding that the mutineers have been apprehended and the situation is now calm. Georgia is an independent, democratic republic and any attempt to change the government of that country through non-democratic means is unacceptable. The Georgian people are committed to live in a sovereign, democratic nation and the… Continue Reading
May 01, 2009
Kerry, Lugar, Casey Mark World Press Freedom Day
WASHINGTON, DC -- In advance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), Ranking Member Senator Dick Lugar (R-IL) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, joined to release the following statement: "World Press Freedom Day, Sunday May 3, is an important reminder that a free press promotes an open marketplace of ideas and provides publ… Continue Reading
April 22, 2009
Chairman Kerry Applauds Confirmation Of Christopher Hill As U.S. Ambassador To Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) made the following statement today after a vote by the Senate to confirm President Obama's nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Christopher R. Hill of Rhode Island: "It took much longer than it should have, but I am pleased that Chris Hill has finally been confirmed as President Obama's Ambassador to Iraq. He is one of the best diplomats we have in our country. Despite the significant security impr… Continue Reading
April 17, 2009
Kerry Statement on Global Warming "Endangerment Finding"
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s announcement that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare: "Today's announcement must serve as wake up call to anyone still left in Congress who doubts the urgent need to address global climate change. The science is screaming at us, and it's time for Congress to act. I applaud the EPA for c… Continue Reading
April 17, 2009
Chairman Kerry Announces Agreement by Sudanese Leaders to Tripartite Talks on the Implementation of the Vital North-South Peace Agreement
KHARTOUM, SUDAN- Last evening, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry issued the following statement after meetings yesterday in Sudan: "After a series of discussions with Sudanese leaders from both the North and South of Sudan, I can announce that leaders from the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) have made commitments to enter into tripartite talks with President Obama's Special Envoy for Sudan, General Gration, to reengage in… Continue Reading
April 16, 2009
Chairman Kerry To Seek Ratification Of Arms Trafficking Treaty
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement in response to President Obama call for the ratification of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, and Other Related Materials Treaty. It is commonly known by its Spanish acronym CIFTA: "I welcome President Obama's support for CIFTA. It sends an important message of our country's commitment to help address the … Continue Reading
