News from 2023
Chairman McCaul Announces Hearing on Exposing Putin’s Crimes and Atrocities in Ukraine
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul announced the full committee will convene a hearing entitled “Exposing Putin’s Crimes:
McCaul on Being Sanctioned by CCP
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul issued the following statement on being sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in response to the chairman’s delegation trip to Taiwan last week.
Subcommittee Hearing Announcement: “China’s Political Prisoners: Where’s Gao Zhisheng?”
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
The House Foreign Affairs Committee announced the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations will convene a hearing entitled, “China’s Political Prisoners:
SFRC Chairman Menendez Statement on Release of Paul Rusesabagina
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued the following statement in reaction to the news that Paul Rusesabagina, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, will be released from prison in Rwanda:
Senators Menendez, Risch, Kaine, Rubio Re-Introduce International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA)
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing the International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and enhance critical programming, policy, and funding essential to the United States’ efforts to combat human trafficking around the world.
Ahead of the Summit for Democracy, Sen. Menendez, Sen. Markey, Rep. Garcia Introduce International Human Rights Defense Act
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
Ahead of the second international Summit for Democracy co-hosted by the United States, and as LGBTQI+ people experience growing assaults on their safety and freedom both domestically and internationally, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today reintroduced the International Human Rights Defense Act alongside Representative Robert Garcia (CA-42) to affirm the U.S.’s role in protecting and promoting LGBTQI+ rights.
SFRC Chairman Menendez Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S. Support of Democracy and Human Rights
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today delivered the following opening remarks at this morning’s full hearing on U.S. support of democracy and human rights.
SFRC Chairman Menendez Statement on New Sanctions against Assad Regime
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today released the below statement in reaction to the Biden administration’s designation of sanctions pursuant to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 against individuals who have supported the Assad regime’s trafficking of potent amphetamine Captagon.
SFRC Chairman Menendez Delivers Final Remarks in Advance of Senate Vote to Repeal 1991, 2002 AUMFs against Iraq
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following remarks in advance of the Senate’s vote on final passage to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force against Iraq
Chairman Menendez, Ranking Member Meeks Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Prevent Arms Sales to Human Rights Abusers
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) today led a group of Democratic lawmakers in introducing the Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act of 2023, new bicameral legislation to bolster Congress’ role in the review of proposed arms sales and exports to prevent the United States from contributing to or facilitating future human rights abuses
SFRC Chairman Menendez Delivers Keynote Address at Second Summit for Democracy
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today delivered the following keynote address at the second Summit of Democracy.
Senators Menendez, Kaine, Hagerty, Murphy Introduce Resolution Commemorating 200 Years of Official U.S.-Chile Relations
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chairman of the SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, were joined by Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in introducing a bipartisan resolution commemorating 200 years of official relations between the United States and the Republic of Chile.
Menendez, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Expressing Concern on Environmental Crimes, Attacks on Human Rights of Environmental, Land Defenders in Latin America, Caribbean
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chairman of the SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
Senators Menendez, Collins Introduce Resolution Reaffirming Support for the Good Friday Agreement
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and 12 of their Senate colleagues, today announced the introduction of a resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (April 10).
Chairman Menendez Statement on Russia’s Wrongful Detention of Evan Gershkovich
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued the following statement calling on the Biden administration to expedite a “wrongfully detained” determination in the case of New Jersey native and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, currently detained on trumped up espionage charges in Russia:
Chairman Menendez Statement on Imposition of Sanctions on Lebanese Brothers
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued the following statement after the Biden administration imposed new sanctions on Tuesday on two Lebanese brothers—Raymond Zina Rahme and Teddy Zina Rahme—accused of contributing to the breakdown of the rule of law in Lebanon by selling “dangerously compromised fuel" to Lebanon's state utility company:
Risch, Manchin Reintroduce Bipartisan International Nuclear Energy Act
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reintroduced the International Nuclear Energy Act (INEA).
Risch, Wicker, McCaul, Rogers Urge Biden to Send DPICM to Ukraine
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.),
Risch, Wicker, McCaul, Rogers Urge Biden to Send DPICM to Ukraine
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today sent a letter to President Biden urging the administration to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions such as dual purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM).
Risch, Menendez Introduce Legislation in Support of Ecuador
By State Newswire Report | Apr 16, 2023
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced the Innovation and Development in Ecuador (IDEA) Act, legislation to make Ecuador eligible for designation as a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.