Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today applauded the passage of his bipartisan bill, the USTR Inspector General Act of 2021, as an amendment to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, bipartisan legislation that will lay the foundation for the next century of American economic leadership. The larger package also includes the Strategic Competition Act, one of the senator’s most significant legislative priorities from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This unprecedented, bipartisan legislation will mobilize all United States strategic, economic, and diplomatic tools for an Indo-Pacific strategy that enables the U.S. government to compete effectively with the People’s Republic of China and the challenges it poses to our national and economic security for decades to come.

This USTR Inspector General (IG) provision would allow for independent, non-partisan oversight and increased transparency and accountability at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), which came under increased scrutiny over reports and allegations of inconsistent policy implementation, conflicts of interest, and political favoritism during the past administration.

“The U.S Trade Representative is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing U.S. international trade policies with far-reaching consequences for our country’s economy, as well as American workers, businesses and civil society,” said Sen. Menendez. “That’s why I’m thrilled the Senate has taken concrete action to address the longstanding lack of oversight over U.S. trade policy.”

The USTR Inspector General amendment would establish a statutory IG for the United States Trade Representative under the Inspector General Act of 1978, similar to IGs for the Departments of Commerce, Defense, State, Justice, and Treasury, to perform independent, non-partisan oversight, increase transparency and accountability, and crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse. It would also require the president to appoint an individual to serve as USTR IG, subject to advice and consent of the Senate, not later than 120 days after enactment.

Sen. Menendez added, “Inspectors General play a critical role in guaranteeing that government agencies follow the law, are held accountable for any wrongdoing, and ensure taxpayer dollars are well spent. Passage of my amendment means the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will no longer be one of the only cabinet-level agencies without this critical and time-tested oversight tool. More importantly, it will guarantee transparent trade policy that will truly prioritize the economic interests of the American people.”

In addition to Sens. Menendez and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Republican lead, the USTR IG amendment to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act was cosponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tom Carper D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Todd Young (D-Ind.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.). The amendment ultimately passed and was included in the larger legislative package by a 91-4 vote in the Senate.

Click HERE for a copy of the USTR IG amendment.

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Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), issued the following statement after the Senate voted to approve a comprehensive legislative package to mobilize all of the United States’ strategic, economic, and diplomatic tools to compete effectively with China and confront Beijing’s challenges to our national and economic security.

Entitled the U.S Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, the bipartisan legislation brings together the Strategic Competition Act of 2021 authored by Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member Risch, as well as the Endless Frontier Act (Schumer-Young), the Meeting the China Challenge Act of 2021 (Brown-Toomey) and additional bipartisan legislation from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, HELP Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Appropriations Committee. 

“Today’s approval of the U.S Innovation and Competition Act is an extraordinary victory for America’s global leadership and for those interested in securing a 21^st century regional and international order built on progressive values,” said Chairman Menendez.

“The need to outcompete China and recalibrate our diplomatic strategy is one of the biggest foreign policy challenges of our time. This legislation puts core American values and human rights at the heart of our foreign policy, replenishes the sources of our national strength here at home, supports our alliances and stability, and prioritizes fair economic competition.
“As China challenges us across every dimension of national security – militarily, economically, diplomatically, and on values  – the Senate is laying out a bold new vision that ensures our country is positioned to compete, and succeed, for decades to come. Getting our strategy right is essential to deter and constrain problematic PRC behavior — and to encourage Beijing to make different choices that could open up a different range of possibilities and opportunities for greater cooperation where we face shared challenges.   

 “As the lead author of the foreign policy section of this package, I’m honored to have seen it through to passage and look forward to continue working with my colleagues so that President Biden can sign it into law as soon as possible.”

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Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following opening remarks at this afternoon’s full Committee hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2022 State Department Budget Request. Testifying before the Committee was Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“For the international community to work for Americans, for fundamental universal values of human rights, democracy, and equitable prosperity, the United States must invest in and lead international institutions and stand up for international law. We must invest in smart economic development and free and fair trade. We must invest in meeting the challenges of climate change. And we must invest in our diplomacy and development professionals,” Chairman Menendez said. “For when we do not, we find that others, with different interests and values, have the space to act in ways that threaten to upend the global order and undermine our interests.”

 [embedded content]

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 Find a copy of Chairman Menendez’s remarks as delivered below.

“Mr. Secretary, Welcome. I am pleased to see you before the Committee again. It’s nice to see the Secretary engage on a regular basis, and we appreciate that. Even though we may not always agree on everything, I appreciate you proactively making yourself available to discuss the budget. It sends an important signal about the value of transparency and our two branches of government working together on behalf of the American people.
I am also pleased to note that, after four years in which this Committee, on a bipartisan basis, greeted the foreign affairs budget proposals with various tones of incredulity, today we have a serious budget proposal, that, if enacted, would represent the largest increase to the regular international affairs budget in more than a decade. That is not to say that we will see eye-to-eye all the specific components – to be sure – and we’re looking forward to a robust and substantive discussion.
 
After a year during which the international community has been shaken to its core by the COVID pandemic, it should be clear to everyone that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in both public health and in international affairs, and especially where the two intersect.
 
I was pleased to see the Administration’s recent announcement that we will be leading on the world stage by providing vaccines to countries desperately in need – although I believe we should prioritize countries who embrace fundamental democratic freedoms and rights.
 
For the international community to work for Americans, for fundamental universal values of human rights, democracy, and equitable prosperity, the United States must invest in and lead international institutions and stand up for international law. We must invest in smart economic development and free and fair trade. We must invest in meeting the challenges of climate change. And we must invest in our diplomacy and development professionals. For when we do not, we find that others, with different interests and values, have the space to act in ways that threaten to upend the global order and undermine our interests.
 
The Administration’s proposal to significantly increase the budget for State and USAID and other international programs reflects the investments we need to be successful in furthering our nation’s interests and values. And I want to commend you for seeking to rebalance the budget away from Overseas Contingency Operations and restore ‘base’ funding.
 
Today’s hearing isn’t just about numbers – it is about how we invest those numbers. So let me take a few minutes to highlight a few issues and areas of concern:
 
Broadly in the Middle East, we need to rebalance a heavily military and arms sales-oriented policy to one that focuses more on strategic diplomatic and development investments. And while not directly related to the budget, we would certainly want to hear about the Administration’s efforts to reach a comprehensive diplomatic agreement with Iran that goes far beyond the JCPOA.
 
What is the definition of ‘stronger’?
 
In Europe, many of us were disappointed by the Administration’s decision to waive sanctions on NordStream2. As I know that when you leave us today you are heading to Europe, I look forward to hearing your perspective about how the U.S. can work to assure Ukraine of our commitment to its security, and critically, in advance of President Biden’s meeting with Putin, I hope the Administration sends a very strong message to Moscow.
 
Putin only understands strength.
 
On Afghanistan, the security situation is increasingly dire and we have to start thinking about our contingency planning. The Committee needs to hear beyond vague promises of commitment to the Afghan people what we are going to do. 
 
In Africa, the Administration faces a raft of diplomatic challenges. China and Russia continue to act in ways inimical to our interests and those of the majority of the people in Africa. Tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam could destabilize the entire Horn of Africa. Al-Shabaab poses a continuing threat, while in Mozambique another robust terrorist threat has emerged. Coups in Mali and Chad have undermined international counterterrorism and development efforts, and Nigeria requires a fundamental rethink of the framework of our overall engagement.
 
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating social and political pressures with serious implications for regional stability. We are also seeing a fraying of democratic consensus with deeply flawed elections and far too common attacks on the separation of powers, with the potential results of democratic decay all too apparent in the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela or the irregular migration streaming from Central America.
 
I also look forward to hearing what we are doing to get to the bottom of apparent attacks on U.S. personnel and family members that have left many with ongoing and debilitating injuries, and the steps that State is taking to ensure our personnel are protected.
 
Beyond the immediate health impacts of the COVID pandemic, I also look forward to hearing from you how the United States will address secondary impacts of the pandemic, given that 36 countries, and 130 million people – could now experience famine this year.
 
I am also eager to understand how the Administration plans to address the needs of the 235 million people worldwide that require humanitarian assistance and protection – a near 40 percent increase over 2020. Across the globe, authoritarian regimes and non-state actors have impeded humanitarian access to devastating effect, and how the Administration intends to address the horrific trend of sexual and gender-based violence – in Tigray, Ethiopia, Burma, Xinjiang and elsewhere – where governments use sexual violence as a weapon of war against religious and ethnic minorities.
 
Finally, as the Senate continues with consideration of its China package, including the Strategic Competition Act this Committee voted out on a bipartisan basis, I am interested in your views on how to resource and posture ourselves in the Indo-Pacific, and successfully compete with China across all dimensions of power.
 
It’s a long list of concerns, Mr. Secretary, you well know that. It’s hardly comprehensive even. But that is the world we have – the challenges that we face as a nation.
 
So we look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas for how we meet this signal moment in our country and our planet’s history and the role you envision for the Department of State in helping our nation to do so.
 
With that, the distinguished Ranking Member, Senator Risch.”

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

06.08.21

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) along with Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a group of 14 Republican senators in pressing the Biden Administration to adhere to US law and refrain from reopening the Mission of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) on US soil and the US Consulate General in Jerusalem for the Palestinians.

In the letter the Senators wrote, “While we are committed to working with you on constructive ways to engage with the Palestinian people, we oppose any efforts by your administration to provide rewards and incentives to the Palestinian leadership or Hamas for their abhorrent support of violence and terrorism, their efforts to press the ICC to illegitimately investigate Israel, and other efforts to circumvent direct negotiations with Israel. 

Lankford introduced the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which was signed into law by President Trump in 2019 to ensure access to courts for Americans who were injured or killed by acts of terrorism while abroad. In April, Lankford and Grassley sent a letter urging Secretary Blinken to follow the law.

Joining Lankford, Rubio, and Grassley in sending the letter were Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Boozman (R-AR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN). 

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Mr. President: 

We write with regard to your administration’s reported plans relating to US diplomatic relations with the Palestinians. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent announcement that the US will move to reopen the Consulate General in Jerusalem that oversaw relations with the Palestinians as well as reports that your administration plans to re-open the Mission of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington, DC are deeply concerning. It is particularly misguided at a time when the Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Mahmoud Abbas along with the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas, incited and supported recent violent riots, rock throwing, and other terror attacks in Jerusalem. This was escalated by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad firing more than 4,000 rockets that rained down terror on Israeli civilians. We urge you to adhere to US law and ensure both of these diplomatic missions remain closed.

In 2018, the Trump Administration, in accordance with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (P.L.104-45), officially opened the US Embassy in Israel’s capital of Jerusalem and in 2019, merged the US diplomatic mission to the Palestinians in Jerusalem with the Consul General’s official residence into the US Embassy in Jerusalem. This facilitated US policy to rightfully reflect the reality that Jerusalem is Israel’s united and historic capital, and became formally compliant with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. Re-opening this diplomatic mission to the Palestinians in Israel’s capital would wrongly indicate that the US supports dividing the capital city of our close ally and would only reward the Palestinian leadership’s continued hostility toward Israel. This hostility has included the spreading of false propaganda that contributed to the recent violence in Jerusalem, supporting an illegitimate International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation against Israel for non-existent war crimes, and incentivizing and rewarding terrorism through paying terrorists and their families. We understand the need to have direct engagement with Palestinian leadership but we oppose granting the Palestinians a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital city, which is undisputed under US law.

We are also concerned with reports that your administration is considering reopening the PLO Mission in Washington DC Furthermore, your administration must uphold US law that seeks to hold the PLO and PA accountable to financial claims against them in US courts by American victims of Palestinian terrorism. We urge you to ensure that that there is no type of evasion or undermining of the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2019 (PSJVTA, § 903 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, P.L. 116-94). This bipartisan law deems any reestablishment of an office on American soil by the PLO or PA as consent to jurisdiction in US courts in cases by American families for heinous PLO/PA-sponsored terror attacks. These families seek justice and compensation for victims of Palestinian terrorist activities incited by hateful rhetoric and abhorrent policies and practices, including the “pay-for-slay” programs sponsored by the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. Allowing the reopening of the PLO mission in Washington, DC without requiring the PA and PLO to answer for these claims would be a betrayal of American families who are seeking their day in court.  

While we are committed to working with you on constructive ways to engage with the Palestinian people, we oppose any efforts by your administration to provide rewards and incentives to the Palestinian leadership or Hamas for their abhorrent support of violence and terrorism, their efforts to press the ICC to illegitimately investigate Israel, and other efforts to circumvent direct negotiations with Israel. As long as the Palestinian Authority and Iranian-backed Hamas, or other Palestinian terrorist groups, are not held accountable for their actions, the Palestinian people will continue to suffer and there will be no prospects for a long term and peaceful solution between Israelis and Palestinians.  

We urge your administration to reconsider these actions and to work with Congress to craft policies that support our ally, Israel, and assist the Palestinian people. 

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

06.08.21

WASHINGTON, DC –Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, led a group of 56 Senators—representing over half the Senate—in announcing the re-launch of the Task Force. First launched in 2019, the collaboration is the first of its kind in the United States Senate, serving as a corollary to the House of Representative’s Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

“Antisemitism remains a significant threat to our Jewish friends and neighbors. Senator Rosen and I and our fellow Task Force members are taking action. Antisemitism cannot continue to escalate, as we’ve seen in recent months and years both here and abroad,” said Lankford. “I hope to welcome even more of our colleagues into the Task Force to call out instances of antisemitism where we see them, so when we say, ‘never again,’ we can demonstrate that we mean it.”

“As antisemitism surges in the United States and around the world, we must do all that we can to put a stop to these hateful actions. In recent weeks, we’ve seen attacks on Jewish communities and Jewish-owned places of business and foreign leaders who have invoked antisemitic conspiracies. With studies showing that a majority of young Americans lack basic knowledge about the Holocaust, we have a duty to act now,” said Rosen. “As Members of Congress, our responsibility to our neighbors, our friends, our community, and our children is to work together in a bipartisan way to prevent antisemitism before it starts, and to call it out when it happens. We are proud to re-launch this bipartisan Task Force once again with a total of 56 United States Senators – equally divided by party – as we continue to combat antisemitism by educating and empowering our communities.”

The Task Force includes 56 Senators, with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats: Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), James Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tim Scott (R-SC), Todd Young (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Thune (R-SD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).

Last month, Lankford and Rosen introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning recent antisemitic incidents in the United States and around the world. The Senators’ resolution calls on leaders to denounce antisemitism and take specific steps to address and prevent it. The resolution is now co-sponsored by 68 Senators—evenly divided by party—representing more than two-thirds of the Senate.

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today released the below statement following her call with President Joe Biden where he ended the infrastructure negotiations.

“I spoke with the president this afternoon and he ended our infrastructure negotiations. As Republicans, we believe in our nation’s infrastructure, which is why our negotiating team—which consisted of the Ranking Members from the committees of jurisdiction—consistently worked in good faith with President Biden and were optimistic that we could reach a bipartisan agreement for the sake of the country. Throughout our negotiations, we engaged respectfully, fully, and very candidly—delivering several serious counteroffers that each represented the largest infrastructure investment Republicans have put forth.

“In our discussions with the president, he himself made it clear that he was willing to accept an offer around $1 trillion, that baseline spending would and could be included, and that a plan could stretch over an 8-year period of time. The president also understood one of our red lines, which was not undoing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which has helped so many Americans. Our latest offer, coupled with legislation the Senate is expected to pass today, would have exceeded the president’s threshold.

“Despite the progress we made in our negotiations, the president continued to respond with offers that included tax increases as his pay for, instead of several practical options that would have not been harmful to individuals, families, and small businesses.

“While I appreciate President Biden’s willingness to devote so much time and effort to these negotiations, he ultimately chose not to accept the very robust and targeted infrastructure package, and instead, end our discussions. However, this does not mean bipartisanship isn’t feasible. The Senate EPW Committee continues to demonstrate bipartisan action on infrastructure. In a one-month period, our committee passed a bipartisan water and wastewater infrastructure bill out of the Senate and passed a surface transportation bill unanimously out of committee. Moving forward, I will continue building on this momentum and working with my colleagues to advance bipartisan solutions like these.

“After negotiating in good faith and making significant progress to move closer to what the president wanted, I am disappointed by his decision.”

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