Ranking Member's Press
Chairman Kerry Applauds Nomination of Robert King, Special Envoy For North Korean Human Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following last week's announcement of President Obama nominating Robert King to be the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement: "I applaud President Obama's nomination of Robert King to be the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues. Bob King is exceptionally well qualified for this difficult diplomatic assignment. Congress created this position to un… Continue Reading
September 25, 2009
Chairman Kerry: "Iran Must Comply With International Demands Or Face Consequences"
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to President Obama, President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Brown statement on Iran's secret nuclear fuel plant: "In light of Iran's continuing deception, the international community must step up its demands that Iran halt its enrichment and reprocessing work, answer the International Atomic Energy Agency's questions, and provide IAEA inspectors with the full … Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Kerry Applauds Passage Of United Nations' Nuclear Proliferation Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement commending the United Nations Security Council's unanimous adoption of a nonproliferation and disarmament resolution: "I commend the President for reasserting American leadership on the vital issue of nuclear nonproliferation and for securing unanimous Security Council approval of an important resolution. The world has long looked to our nation to lead in combating nuclear p… Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation To Increase Nonmilitary Aid To Pakistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) welcomed passage by the United State Senate of a revised version of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, which will triple non-military aid Pakistan. The bill, S. 1707, updates and builds uponthe earlier S. 962 passed by the Senate in June. Senator Kerry said, "Today, by unanimous consent, the Senate passed S.1707, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 20… Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Senate Unanimously Passes Kerry-Lugar Pakistan Aid Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) released the following statements following unanimous Senate passage of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S. 962), also known as the Kerry-Lugar Bill. "Pakistan is facing a critical moment, and today the Senate has made a clear bipartisan commitment to replace an atmosphere of mutual distrust and lack of accountability with a broad-based, durable commitment to P… Continue Reading
September 22, 2009
Kerry Statement On President Obama's Trilateral Meeting With PM Netanyahu And President Abbas
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today following President's Obama's trilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas: "President Obama has shown a commendable commitment to making Middle East peace a priority. I hope that today's meeting between President Obama, Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas is the first step back to the negotiating table-and … Continue Reading
September 17, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Countering The Threat Of Failure In Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening statement at the hearing titled "Countering the Threat of Failure in Afghanistan": Yesterday was the first in a series of hearings on Afghanistan being conducted by this Committee. We heard three compelling cases for how America should proceed. The prescriptions ranged from dramatically reducing our footprint to expanding our commitment of troops and money to a level that wou… Continue Reading
September 16, 2009
Kerry Applauds Passing Of UN Resolution To Create New Women's Agency
Washington, DC-Following three years of negotiations, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) issued the following statement applauding the sixty-third United Nations General Assembly's historic passage of a resolution to create one UN agency for women, which will promote women's equality and rights: "It is high time the UN bring to the forefront gender and women's issues by creating one agency. Creating a strong, consolidated UN Agency for Women headed by an Unde… Continue Reading
September 16, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Strategy For Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today held a hearing to explore the various scenarios for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered the following opening remarks: The future course of our mission in Afghanistan has become one of the most important and difficult questions we face. In the weeks ahead, this Committee will hold a series of hearings to study the situation in greater depth and weigh our options going forward. I know tha… Continue Reading
September 15, 2009
Kerry Applauds Phase-down of Dangerous Greenhouse Gases
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Obama Administration's proposal to eliminate dangerous emissions known as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as part of an international treaty to protect the ozone layer. The treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, currently excludes regulations for HFCs which Kerry has called "significantly more powerful greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide," warning that the emissions' damage "is … Continue Reading
September 10, 2009
Kerry Opening Statement At Hearing On Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) today delivered opening remarks at the hearing titled, "Iraq: Report from the Field." Full text of Chairman Kerry's opening statement as prepared is below: Today we are honored to be joined by America's top diplomat in Baghdad and a longtime friend of this Committee. Welcome back, Chris. I'd also like to recognize the efforts of all our brave and capable diplomats serving in harm's way. Just like our so… Continue Reading
September 03, 2009
Kerry Welcomes Sanctions Against Coup Regime In Honduras
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today in response to Secretary of State Clinton's announcement that the Administration will suspend aid to Honduras as the result of the June 28th coup that ousted President Zelaya: "Today, Secretary of State Clinton announced that the United States is suspending financial aid to the Honduran government and revoking the U.S. visas of supporters of the coup. I applaud the Adm… Continue Reading
August 24, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement On Elections In Afghanistan
Washington, D.C.-Ahead of tomorrow's presidential and provincial elections in Afghanistan, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement: "The Afghan people are demonstrating tremendous courage in defying threats of violence and pursuing democracy in their elections. The fact that dozens of candidates, including two women, are competing for President and thousands of candidates, including about 300 women, are running for provincial council seats i… Continue Reading
August 22, 2009
Chairman Kerry Statement on Ramadan
For Immediate Release: Saturday, August 22, 2009 Washington, D.C.-Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement to Muslim communities in America and around the world marking the start of Ramadan today: "With the onset of Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar year where observing Muslims fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset as a way to increase spirituality and thank God for his blessings, I want to extend my best wishes to Muslim com… Continue Reading
August 20, 2009
Kerry Condemns Release of Lockerbie Bomber
Washington, DC-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), released the following statement today in response to the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber, Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi: "The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 was horrific and unforgivable. 270 people, including 189 American citizens, lost their lives in what was, before September 11, 2001, the deadliest terrorist attack ever committed against the United States. Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi was senten… Continue Reading
August 11, 2009
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Report Examines U.S. Counter-Narcotics Strategy In Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has issued a report titled, "Afghanistan's Narco War: Breaking the Link between Drug Traffickers and Insurgents", examining the new U.S. counter-narcotics strategy in Afghanistan. The Obama Administration has deemphasized opium poppy eradication and is focused for the first time on breaking the link between the narcotics trade and the Taliban. The aim is to deny money to the insurgency, which has been collecting millions of dollars… Continue Reading
July 30, 2009
Chairman Kerry Urges Cooperation After Election In Moldova
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry released the following statement today in response to the historic election in the Republic of Moldova that may ultimately result in the unseating of the last governing Communist Party in the former Soviet Union: "This is an important moment for the Republic of Moldova. It is inspiring and reassuring to see Moldovans exercising their democratic rights through the electoral process, but it is likewise troubling … Continue Reading
July 30, 2009
Chairman Kerry Opening Statement For Hearing On Sudan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry made the following statement at today's hearing titled, "Toward a Comprehensive Strategy for Sudan". Full text as prepared is below: Today's hearing explores America's need to craft a comprehensive strategy for Sudan. For years, the urgency of either the situation in Darfur or the long war between North and South Sudan drove U.S. policy strongly in one direction or the other. Over time, the result has been a b… Continue Reading
July 29, 2009
Chairman Kerry Discusses Climate Change At National Press Club
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) delivered a speech today titled, "America and China on the Road to Copenhagen: Toward a Climate Change Partnership, at the National Press Club. Below are Chairman Kerry's remarks, as delivered: When Richard Nixon first visited China back in 1972, that journey seemed far longer than the seven thousand miles that actually separate Washington from Beijing. He was bridging the gap between two worlds separated … Continue Reading
July 28, 2009
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
