Ranking Member's Press
Chairman Kerry Congratulates Philippines President-Elect Aquino On His Election
Washington, D.C.---Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement today congratulating Benigno Aquino II as the next president of the Republic of the Philippines: "I congratulate President Aquino on his election as the next president of the Republic of the Philippines. My colleagues and I look forward to working closely with the new government to advance our common interests. We hope to welcome President-elect Aquino to the United States as soon… Continue Reading
June 09, 2010
Chairman Kerry Applauds United Nations Security Council Resolution Imposing Sanctions Against Iran
WASHINGTON, DC - Following passage of United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran this morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement hailing the resolution: "I applaud today's United Nations Security Council vote to significantly expand both the scale and scope of Iran sanctions. These measures give the Obama Administration and the international community important new political and economic tools to moderate Iran's behavior and… Continue Reading
May 27, 2010
Chairman Kerry On President Obama’s National Security Strategy
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today released the following statement applauding President Obama's National Security Strategy, which he said breaks decisively with the Bush-era approach to the world. Instead of casting U.S. foreign policy through the prism of conflict, the new strategy emphasizes the cooperation we need to meet the most pressing threats to our security. "President Obama's National Security Strategy restores a reality-based appro… Continue Reading
May 25, 2010
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Kerry-Corker Legislation To Support The Rebuilding Of Haiti
Washington, D.C.---Under the leadership of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), ranking Republican on the subcommittee on international development and foreign assistance, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today approved bipartisan legislation that would support the rebuilding of Haiti following the devastation of the January 12, 2010, earthquake. The Kerry-Corker Haiti Empowerment, Assistance and Rebuilding (HEAR) Act of 2010 authori… Continue Reading
May 25, 2010
Dr. Henry Kissinger Testifies Before Senate Foreign Relations Committee Urging For Ratification Of The New START Treaty
Washington, DC - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today held a hearing with Dr. Henry Kissinger on the role of modern-day strategic arms control and the New START Treaty. Dr. Kissinger has played a vital role in American arms control efforts and continues to shape public discourse on nuclear strategy. He successfully negotiated SALT I, the first agreement between the U.S. and Soviet Union to limit nuclear weapons. During the hearing, Dr. Kissinger called on the Se… Continue Reading
May 13, 2010
Statement By Chairman Kerry Following The Bilateral Luncheon With President Karzai Of Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, DC -Following today's luncheon with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry released the following statement: "I am pleased to welcome President Karzai and his ministers to Congress and to Washington. President Karzai has brought much of his Cabinet with him, including both veteran ministers and solid, newly-installed technocrats. In October, I had the opportunity to meet with President Karzai over five days in Kabul, and that … Continue Reading
May 10, 2010
Kerry, Lugar Urge Administration To Move Forward On The U.S.-Korean Trade Agreement
Washington, D.C.---Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) today sent a letter to the Administration calling for the timely resolution of outstanding issues related to theU.S.-South Korean trade agreement. Senators Kerry and Lugar argue that it is in the best economic and strategic interest of the United States to strengthen ties with its allies. "The United States should work with South Korea to resolve legitimate concerns and quickl… Continue Reading
May 06, 2010
Chairman Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Marjah
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today delivered the following opening statement at a hearing on Marjah: Full text as prepared is below: Thank you all for coming today. This morning's discussion is the latest in a series of hearings this committee has held on Afghanistan. Last year, as the administration weighed a series of difficult choices, we sought to explore the options in depth. Today, we hope to hear how those decisions are playing out on t… Continue Reading
May 06, 2010
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Releases GAO Report Highlighting Need For Stronger Management At Vietnam Education Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) today released a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF). The report was commissioned by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Congress created the Vietnam Education Foundation in 2000 as an independent agency in the executive branch to run an international science, technology, medicine, and mathematics fellowship program. T… Continue Reading
May 05, 2010
Kerry, Lugar Applaud New Policy Bureau At U.S. Agency For International Development
Washington, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) today issued statements applauding Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), for reestablishing the bureau for policy, planning, and learning within USAID. This bureau will restore strategic thinking and policy expertise to the agency. The new policy bureau closely mirrors legislation in the Kerry-Lugar Foreign Assistance Revitaliz… Continue Reading
May 05, 2010
Chairman Kerry On Crisis In Greece
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today offered support to Prime Minister Papandreou, condemned the violence in Greece, and applauded the funding support package announced for Greece by the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "I offer my moral support to Prime Minister Papandreou and to the Greek people facing this challenging road ahead. I also condemn the violence that we've seen on the streets of Athens today and urge calm - thi… Continue Reading
May 05, 2010
Chairman Kerry Welcomes Additional Funding For Prevention Against Gender-Based Violence and HIV/AIDS
Washington, D.C.-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement from the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator that the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will commit $30 million to support Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to prevent and respond to gender-based violence: "In the Democratic Republic of Congo, violence against women has reached epidemic proportions, and HIV/AIDS r… Continue Reading
May 03, 2010
Chairman Kerry Welcomes Efforts To Strengthen The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John F. Kerry (D-MA) today issued a statement in support of the Obama Administration's efforts to strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Senator Kerry emphasized that ratifying the New START treaty and strengthening the NPT are two critical steps toward improving our national security: "As Secretary Clinton said today at the United Nations, nuclear proliferation can be stopped, but it will take strong leadership by the United States,… Continue Reading
May 03, 2010
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Report Urges Reform Of Radio And TV Marti
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee majority staff has issued a report examining the effectiveness of Radio and TV Marti titled, "Cuba: Immediate Action Is Needed to Ensure the Survivability of Radio and TV Marti". Radio Marti was created in 1983 to support the Cuban people in their quest for "accurate, unbiased, and consistently reliable" news and current affairs. TV Marti, created in 1990, sought to expand Radio Marti's goals with television programming. The report find… Continue Reading
April 29, 2010
Chairman Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On The New START Treaty
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today released the following statement at a hearing titled, "The Historical and Modern Context for U.S.- Russian Arms Control": The full text of his statement as prepared is below: Thank you all for coming. This afternoon, we begin a series of hearings on the New START Treaty. In the coming weeks, administration witnesses and outside experts from across the political spectrum will testify about this his… Continue Reading
April 29, 2010
Chairman Kerry Marks The Opening Of The 2010 Shanghai Expo
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today released the following statement celebrating the opening of the 2010 Shanghai Expo: "I congratulate the people of China on the opening of World Expo 2010in Shanghai and wish them every success with this endeavor. Expo 2010 represents a chance to recognize China's progress on its 30-year path of reform. It also serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished if China continues along this road. I know t… Continue Reading
April 29, 2010
Arms Control Experts Urge New START Approval
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dr. James Schlesinger and Dr. William Perry, two veteran arms control experts, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in testimony today that the New START Treaty should be approved for ratification by the Senate. Both of them said they believe the Senate has an obligation to approve the treaty as an important step forward in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. They also said the treaty could improve Russian cooperation with the United States and other countries tr… Continue Reading
April 27, 2010
For First Time in Five Years, Foreign Relations Committee Passes Authorization Bill
Washington, D.C.---For the first time since 2005, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today passed bipartisan legislation approving an overall budget and policy framework for the U.S. State Department, Peace Corps, and Broadcasting Board of Governors. Under the leadership of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), the Committee approved by a voice vote the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010-11, S.2971. This l… Continue Reading
April 26, 2010
Senate Foreign Relations Committee To Mark Up And Vote On Legislation That Will Strengthen U.S. Diplomacy
Washington, D.C.-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) will mark up the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010-11(S.2971) at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, in Room S-116 of the U.S. Capitol. The mark up will authorize funding levels for the State Department and related accounts and demonstrate the strong commitment of Congress for our diplomatic and foreign policy priorities. "Marking up the Foreign Relations Auth… Continue Reading
April 22, 2010
Chairman Kerry On Global Hunger And Food Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today chaired a hearing to explore the steps that Congress and the Administration can take to lessen world hunger and improve food security. "As we gather here on Earth Day, we must recognize that this already urgent challenge is poised to grow in the years ahead as climate change creates new strains on food supplies everywhere," said Chairman Kerry. "This hearing comes at a moment when our International Affairs Bu… Continue Reading
