Ranking Member's Press
***VIDEO RELEASE*** Menendez, Sowore Family Call for Immediate Release of NJ Journalist being Detained in Nigeria
NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today stood with the family of Omoyele Sowore, a prominent Nigerian-American journalist and activist and a New Jersey resident who was arbitrarily re-arrested yesterday by Nigerian authorities hours after the Senator helped secure his release. "We are here to call upon the government of Nigeria to immediately release Mr. Sowore. New Jersey is watching. The United States is watching. The… Continue Reading
December 06, 2019
Menendez Condemns Harassment and Re-arrest of NJ Journalist in Nigeria
NEWARK - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after Omoyele Sowore, a prominent Nigerian-American journalist and activist, was arbitrarily re-arrested yesterday by Nigerian authorities. Sowore, a New Jersey resident, was first arrested in August and despite two court orders for his release, Nigerian security services refused to release him until yesterday. Hours later he was re-arrested. Senator Menendez has been… Continue Reading
December 05, 2019
Senators Menendez and Rubio Introduce Reauthorization of the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, last night introduced the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Extension Act of 2019. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes 2014 law that imposed mandatory targeted sanctions on Maduro regime officials involved in serious human rights violations and t… Continue Reading
December 04, 2019
Menendez Opening Statement at Hearing on the Millennium Challenge Corporation
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing titled: "Oversight Of The Millennium Challenge Corporation." Testifying before the committee was Sean Cairncross, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. CLICK TO WATCH Senator Menendez's full remarks as delivered can be found below: "Thank you for holding today's Millennium Challenge Corporation oversight hea… Continue Reading
December 04, 2019
Menendez, Rubio Applaud House Passage of Senate Uyghur Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statements after the House of Representatives last night approved an amended version of their bipartisan Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act (S.178). The bill is an important step in countering the totalitarian Chinese government's widespread and horrific human rights abuses in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, including the mass internment of more t… Continue Reading
December 03, 2019
Menendez Confronts Senior State Dept. Officials: Did Ukraine or Russia Intervene in the 2016 U.S. Elections?
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned a senior Trump Administration official about interference in the 2016 presidential election. In response to Menendez, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale confirmed that it was Russia that interfered in the election-not Ukraine, as President Trump has frequently, and falsely, claimed. Quoting Fiona Hill's testimony during the House Intelligence Committee's impeach… Continue Reading
December 03, 2019
Menendez Opening Statement on the Future of U.S. Policy Towards Russia
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a full committee hearing titled: "The Future of U.S. Policy Towards Russia." Testifying before the committee were David Hale, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and Christopher A. Ford, Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation. "I am under no illusion that President Trump shares my views on these five ele… Continue Reading
November 27, 2019
Menendez, Rubio, Cardin, Risch Applaud Signing of Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into Law
NEWARK - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statements after President Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (S.1838) into law. The Senate unanimously passed the bill on Nov. 19, with the House following on Nov. 20 by a vote of 417 to 1, sending the bill directly to the president… Continue Reading
November 22, 2019
Foreign Relations Committee Democrats Demand Sec. Pompeo Recuse Himself from Ukraine Related Matters
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by the entire Democratic bench of the Committee in penning a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to demand his immediate recusal from any proceedings and decisions related to the ongoing Trump-Ukraine scandal. The Senators' letter follows explosive testimony before the House of Representatives by U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, in which he confirmed Secre… Continue Reading
November 21, 2019
Senators Menendez, Young Introduce Bipartisan Legislation for Afghanistan Peace Process Oversight
WASHINGTON - Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today introduced the Ensuring a Durable Afghanistan Peace Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation that provides for congressional oversight of the comprehensive Afghanistan peace process. The comprehensive legislation mandates congressional oversight requirement for U.S. diplomatic efforts to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and any agreem… Continue Reading
November 21, 2019
Senate Republican Again Blocks Menendez Legislation Recognizing Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took to the Senate Floor this afternoon to make a formal Unanimous Consent request for the Senate to pass his legislation formally recognizing the Armenian genocide on behalf of the U.S. government. For the second week in a row, a Republican senator objected to the request, blocking the Senate from passing the Resolution recognizing the Ottoman Empire's killing of 1,500,000 Armenians as a genoci… Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Menendez Remarks at Nomination Hearing for Deputy Secretary of State
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered opening remarks and questioned Stephen E. Biegun at a committee hearing examining his nomination to be Deputy Secretary of State. "As we discussed last week, the Deputy Secretary position is crucial to the functioning of the Department and to advancing U.S. foreign policy. Given the expectation that Secretary Pompeo will leave the Department early next year to run for Senate and… Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Following Sondland Restaurant Call, Menendez Requests Investigation into Diplomatic Security Breaches by Trump Admin Officials
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is requesting that the State Department open a new investigation into Trump administration officials' use of unsecure, personal devices to conduct national security business. The Senator's request follows revelations last week that U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, conducted a highly sensitive conversation with President Trump using his personal cell phone while out in publ… Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Menendez, Rubio, Cardin, Risch Praise Senate Passage of Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) praised the Senate passage of their Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (S. 1838). The amended bipartisan bill was unanimously reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in September. "Today, the Senate takes a momentous step forward in our nation's long hist… Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Menendez Calls for the Senate to Pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered a statement on the Senate Floor tonight in support of a request for the Senate to immediately pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Joined by a group of colleagues, Menendez requested a live Unanimous Consent for the Senate to adopt the bipartisan legislation reaffirming the United States' commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Hong Kong. Belo… Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Bipartisan Leaders of Key Senate Committees Urge New National Security Adviser to Appoint 5G Coordinator
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the bipartisan leadership of several key Senate committees urged President Trump's national security adviser to designate a senior coordinator dedicated to leading the nation's effort to develop and deploy next-generation communications technologies. In a letter to Robert O'Brien, who was appointed as national security adviser in September, the top Republican and Democratic Senators o… Continue Reading
November 15, 2019
As Trump Attacks Ambassador Yovanovitch, Menendez stands up for State Department Officials in Statement for the Senate Record
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a statement for the Senate record offering his support for the career State Department officials testifying before the House of Representatives about the Trump-Ukraine scandal. Menendez praised the selflessness and professionalism of Ambassador Yovanovitch, Ambassador Bill Taylor, and Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent, who have faced smears and innuendo from the President and his… Continue Reading
November 14, 2019
Menendez Statement on Latest IG Report Documenting Political Targeting of State Department Employees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement today on the latest report by the State Department Office of the Inspector General (OIG) regarding allegations of politically-motivated retaliation against career Department employees in the Office of the Secretary of State. The OIG found that improper considerations played a role in a personal action against at least one employee. "The growing body of evidence ab… Continue Reading
November 14, 2019
Menendez Questions Twitter, State Department Following Arrest of Alleged Saudi Arabia Spy Ring at Twitter
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent two separate letters regarding accusations that Twitter employees illegally passed sensitive information about prominent Saudi dissidents to agents of the Saudi government. In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia John Abizaid Menendez, Menendez called on the State Department to answer questions about the actions the Trump Administration is taking … Continue Reading
November 14, 2019
Menendez Resolution to Recognize Armenian Genocide Blocked on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks on the Senate Floor, requesting the unanimous consent of the Senate to pass his Resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham objected to the request, blocking the Senate from passing the Resolution affirming the historical facts of the genocide 104 years after it occurred. CLICK TO WATCH "The United States' foreign policy… Continue Reading
