Ranking Member's Press
Menendez Delivers Floor Speech on COP24 Climate Change Conference Negotiations
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate Floor on the ongoing negotiations at COP 24 - the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference - where parties are negotiating the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The Senator criticized the Trump administration for its lack of leadership on climate diplomacy, its persistent climate change denialism and its refusal to engage with the international c… Continue Reading
December 10, 2018
Menendez Honors Life of Human Rights Champion Lyudmila Alexeyeva in Statement for the Senate Record
WASHINGTON - On International Human Rights Day, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted a statement for the Senate record honoring the life and legacy of Lyudmila Alexeyeva, renowned human rights champion in Russia and around the world. "Our world is better because Lyudmila was here. Our world is better due to her vision, courage, and tenacity. And we all have an obligation to carry on her work, not only in support for human rights in Rus… Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Menendez Calls for Credible Elections in Nigeria in New Senate Resolution
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last night introduced a Senate Resolution reaffirming the Senate's support for democracy in Nigeria and calling on the Nigerian government to take the necessary steps to facilitate elections that are credible, transparent, and peaceful. Nigeria has presidential elections scheduled for February 16, 2019, and gubernatorial and National Assembly elections scheduled for March 2, 2019. "I am introdu… Continue Reading
December 05, 2018
Menendez Lays out Criteria on the Removal of Sanctions on Companies Controlled by Russian Oligarch
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging the Treasury Department not to waive or remove sanctions unless certain criteria are met on two companies controlled by Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch who has been sanctioned by the United States and is accused of participating in a wide range of criminal activities. The Senator stated that the two companies, RUSAL and EN+, must remain sancti… Continue Reading
December 04, 2018
VIDEO: Menendez Reacts to Briefing from CIA Director on Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Khashoggi Murder
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke to Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed a bipartisan group of Senate committee leaders on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Today's briefing comes after there was bipartisan outrage last week over an all-senators briefing by the administration that did not include any intelligence officials. "Before this briefing, I was convinced that we had to … Continue Reading
December 04, 2018
Menendez on the Administration’s Decision to Withdraw from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
WASHINGTON - U.S. 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 the United States' intention to withdraw from the INF Treaty at the NATO Ministerial Meeting. "Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement today in Brussels that the United States will suspend operations of the INF Treaty in sixty days underscores the Administration's continued lack of a clear strategy to count… Continue Reading
December 03, 2018
Menendez, Reed, Warner Pen Letter to Pres. Trump Urging Against Withdrawing U.S. from INF Treaty
WASHINGTON - In a letter to President Donald Trump, Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Mark Warner (D-Va.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, expressed their serious concerns regarding the Administration's expressed intention to pull the United States out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. "While we understand th… Continue Reading
November 30, 2018
Ahead of VP Pence visit to Mexico, Menendez, Leahy, Kaine and Bennet Encourage U.S. Commitment to Improving U.S.-Mexico Relations
WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Michael Bennet (D-Co.) in sending a letter to Vice President Mike Pence encouraging him to use his visit to Mexico to reaffirm U.S. commitment to building a bilateral partnership that advances the prosperity and well-being of the citizens of both nations. "The United States and Mexico share a bond deeper than just … Continue Reading
November 30, 2018
In CSIS Speech, Menendez Addresses Threats to Democracy in Latin America
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) addressing threats to democracy in Latin America, and calling on the Trump Administration to reclaim the United States' status as a champion for democracy abroad. In his remarks, Senator Menendez highlighted the brutality of the regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, as well as other challenges through… Continue Reading
November 29, 2018
Video: Menendez Reacts to Putin Meeting Cancellation, Michael Cohen
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke to CNN's Kate Bolduan and responded to the news that President Trump cancelled his planned meeting with Vladimir Putin at the G20. Menendez also reacted to news about Michael Cohen's guilty plea. "This was [President Trump's] opportunity to redeem himself, stand up for American values, stand up for international law, stand up for our own national security interests, and he had tha… Continue Reading
November 29, 2018
Menendez Applauds the Reauthorization of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously approved a bill to reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (H.R. 6651 PEPFAR Extension Act of 2018). The bipartisan legislation incorporates provisions Menendez coauthored to continue to signal Congress' expectation that 10% of PEPFAR will be used to support activities specifically for orphans and vulnerable children. … Continue Reading
November 28, 2018
Menendez Delivers Floor Speech Ahead of Vote on U.S. Military Role in Yemen
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered a speech before the Senate voted to approve J.Res.54 - A joint resolution to direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress. Explaining his support for the resolution, Senator Menendez criticized the Trump Administration's failure to reign in the Saudi Coalition, which has exacerbated the humanitar… Continue Reading
November 28, 2018
Menendez Leads Senate Effort to Approve Nicaragua Sanctions Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously approved the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (H.R.1918, the NICA Act). The bipartisan legislation seeks to impose targeted sanctions on Nicaraguan government officials responsible for human rights violations and calls for a negotiated solution to the country's ongoing crisis. The final text of the legislation, which now heads bac… Continue Reading
November 27, 2018
Menendez Delivers Floor Speech Condemning Russian Aggression near Crimea and Requesting Manafort Briefing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered a floor speech that condemned last weekend's attack by Russia on Ukrainian ships, outlined clear steps for the United States to take to shore up Ukraine's maritime security, and called on President Trump to unequivocally denounce the Kremlin's escalating aggression. In addition, Senator Menendez also called on the Administration to brief the U.S. Senate on the veracity of rep… Continue Reading
November 27, 2018
Menendez Statement on Reports of Meetings Between Paul Manafort and Julian Assange
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Guardian reported on Tuesday that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort repeatedly held secret talks with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. "If true, the revelation that Paul Manafort repeatedly met with Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London raises serious new questions about Mr. Manafort's … Continue Reading
November 26, 2018
Menendez Condemns Russia’s Seizing of Ukrainian Ships Near Crimea, Calls on Pres. Trump to Increase Security Assistance in the Region
WASHINGTON - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement after Russian warships opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near Crimea on Sunday. "I strongly condemn the Russian Federation's escalation of hostilities in the Kerch Strait yesterday. The Kremlin must immediately return the seized Ukrainian vessels and cease any future actions that threaten the freedom of passage through the Kerch Strait. Yesterday's… Continue Reading
November 21, 2018
Menendez, Corker Demand Determination on Saudi Crown Prince Role in Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
WASHINGTON - In a letter to President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today demanded the administration make a determination specifically addressing whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, by triggering a second Global Magnitsky investigation. The letter can be found… Continue Reading
November 19, 2018
Menendez Demands State Department Address Falling Rates of International Enrollment in U.S. Schools
WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today wrote a letter to Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, to express his concern about the declining number of international students enrolling in U.S. colleges and universities during the Trump Administration. According to a State Department-funded report, enrollment of international students has fallen for the second straight year. "I worry t… Continue Reading
November 15, 2018
Menendez, Young, Reed, Graham, Shaheen, Collins Introduce Comprehensive Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.)-along with Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine)-today introduced the Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018, comprehensive legislation to ensure effective Congressional oversight of U.S. policy on Yemen, provide leverage to push the stakeholders in Yemen's civil war toward a poli… Continue Reading
November 14, 2018
Menendez, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Legislation in Response to China’s Human Rights Abuses against Uyghurs
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), chair of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), introduced the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act in response to the gross violations of human rights in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, including the mass internment of over one million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities, as well as China's intimidation a… Continue Reading
