skip to main content

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations was established in 1816 as one of the original ten standing committees of the Senate. Throughout its history, the committee has been instrumental in developing and influencing United States foreign policy, at different times supporting and opposing the policies of presidents and secretaries of state. The committee has considered, debated, and reported important treaties and legislation, ranging from the purchase of Alaska in 1867 to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. It also holds jurisdiction over all diplomatic nominations. Through these powers, the committee has helped shape foreign policy of broad significance, in matters of war and peace and international relations. Members of the committee have assisted in the negotiation of treaties, and at times have helped to defeat treaties they felt were not in the national interest. (source)

(About Ads | Hide These Ads)
Chair:
Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez [D-NJ]
Ranking Member:
Sen. James Risch [R-ID]
Democrats:
11
Republicans:
11

The chair is always selected from the majority party and the ranking member is the most senior member of the minority party. The majority party ensures it has a majority on every committee.

Members

Portrait of Robert “Bob” Menendez
Chair
Democrat
New Jersey
ex officio, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
Portrait of James Risch
Ranking Member
Republican
Idaho
ex officio, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
Portrait of Benjamin Cardin
Subcommittee Chair
Democrat
Maryland
chair, Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, …
Portrait of Christopher Coons
Subcommittee Chair
Democrat
Delaware
chair, Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International …
Portrait of Timothy “Tim” Kaine
Subcommittee Chair
Democrat
Virginia
chair, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, …
Portrait of Edward “Ed” Markey
Subcommittee Chair
Democrat
Massachusetts
chair, Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity …
Portrait of Christopher Murphy
Subcommittee Chair
Democrat
Connecticut
chair, Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and …
Portrait of Jeanne Shaheen
Subcommittee Chair
Democrat
New Hampshire
chair, Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
Portrait of Chris Van Hollen
Subcommittee Chair
Democrat
Maryland
chair, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
Portrait of Bill Hagerty
Subcommittee Ranking Member
Republican
Tennessee
ranking member, Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, …
Portrait of Ron Johnson
Subcommittee Ranking Member
Republican
Wisconsin
ranking member, Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
Portrait of Robert “Rob” Portman
Subcommittee Ranking Member
Republican
Ohio
ranking member, Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International …
Portrait of Mitt Romney
Subcommittee Ranking Member
Republican
Utah
ranking member, Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity …
Portrait of Mike Rounds
Subcommittee Ranking Member
Republican
South Dakota
ranking member, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
Portrait of Marco Rubio
Subcommittee Ranking Member
Republican
Florida
ranking member, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, …
Portrait of Todd Young
Subcommittee Ranking Member
Republican
Indiana
ranking member, Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and …
Portrait of John Barrasso
Republican
Wyoming
Portrait of Cory Booker
Democrat
New Jersey
Portrait of Ted Cruz
Republican
Texas
Portrait of Jeff Merkley
Democrat
Oregon
Portrait of Rand Paul
Republican
Kentucky
Portrait of Brian Schatz
Democrat
Hawaii

Members are listed in order of their rank on the committee and its subcommittees. Committee membership information is from the unitedstates project on github.

Bills

There are 284 bills referred to this committee. Below find the top 100:

Press Statements

Committee press statements from ProPublica Represent:

“Chairman Risch Publishes Report, Discusses Greater Transatlantic Cooperation on China with Parliamentarians”
    — Nov 18, 2020

“Ranking Member Menendez Delivers Remarks on Implications of Conflict in the South Caucasus”
    — Nov 17, 2020

“Ranking Member Menendez Statement in Observance of Diwali”
    — Nov 14, 2020

“*ADVISORY*: Chairman Risch to Publish Report Outlining Agenda for Transatlantic Cooperation on China”
    — Nov 12, 2020

“Chairman Risch: All Sides Must Cease Fighting, Pursue Dialogue in Ethiopia”
    — Nov 12, 2020

“Menendez Statement on Developments in the South Caucasus”
    — Nov 11, 2020

“Menendez Statement on Worsening Situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region”
    — Nov 9, 2020

“Menendez Statement on Trump Administration’s Formal Withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement”
    — Nov 5, 2020

“Menendez Statement on Violence Surrounding Tanzania’s Presidential Election”
    — Oct 30, 2020

“Menendez Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Rushed Sale of F-35 Jets to UAE”
    — Oct 29, 2020

“Risch, Shaheen on Georgia’s Upcoming Parliamentary Elections”
    — Oct 29, 2020

“Menendez Calls for New Sanctions on Russian Military Intelligence Officers for Cyberattacks”
    — Oct 28, 2020

“Menendez, Castro, Torres Lead Bicameral Call For Accountability Following Trump Administration’s Reckless Immigration Operation in Guatemala”
    — Oct 28, 2020

“Menendez Statement on Michael Pack’s Latest Attack on USAGM”
    — Oct 27, 2020

“Bipartisan Letter Calls for Sanctions on Bangladeshi Battalion for Extrajudicial Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture”
    — Oct 27, 2020

“Menendez, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Designate Uyghur Human Rights Abuses by China as Genocide”
    — Oct 27, 2020

“Risch, Cornyn, Menendez, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Designate Uyghur Human Rights Abuses by China as Genocide”
    — Oct 27, 2020

“Chairman Risch: Today Marks a Turning Point for Sudan”
    — Oct 23, 2020

“Chairman Risch on Launch of U.S.-EU Dialogue on China”
    — Oct 23, 2020

“Menendez Introduces Resolution Calling on Government of Tanzania To Ensure Free and Fair Elections”
    — Oct 23, 2020