Bob Menendez

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, 20 years ago, in the early, overcast hours of March 19, 2003, American stealth bombers and Navy cruise missiles hit Baghdad in the first strikes of the Iraq war. When I think about that war today, I think about the costs--the costs to the Iraqi people, who suffered so terribly, including the families of the hundreds of thousands killed in the insurgency, and the sectarian and ethnic violence that followed the U.S. invasion. I think of the costs to the brave American servicemembers who answered the call, who didn't ask whether it was right or wrong but just answered the call--almost 5,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice-- and to the tens of thousands more who were wounded; to the countless sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, friends and loved ones who had to grieve those they lost and care for those who came home wounded, with scars both visible and invisible, changed by combat forever. I think about the financial costs--almost $2 trillion that could have gone to rebuilding America's infrastructure, caring for America's sick and aging, and educating our next generation. I also think about the costs of something very close to my heart, which is the cause of freedom and the fight for democratic values. Our Nation's democracy, as Ronald Reagan said, was a shining city on a hill, an example to the world of something to aspire to; but the Iraq war undermined our credibility with our partners and allies, with our enemies, and with millions of American citizens who were against it. For too many around the world, the Iraq war made a mockery of U.S. support for democracy and freedom. Today, I proudly remember my vote on the floor of the House of Representatives back in 2002. Life in America was tense in the wake of 9/11. Everything we stood for had been attacked on our own soil--just miles from where I still live. Those of us who resisted the march to war were called naive or worse, but some of us knew what we had to do. We felt the weight of history on our shoulders, and we voted against the war. I spent a lot of time in reviewing the documents that were available to Members of the House. I saw no clear and present danger, no imminent threat, and, above all, no evidence of weapons of mass destruction. And I understand. If the cause is right and America needs it, I will send my son and daughter; but if the cause is not right, I won't send my son and daughter nor will I vote to send anyone else's sons and daughters into harm's way. Two decades later, we have the chance to make history again but, this time, for the better. We have the chance to repeal the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs and honor the legacy of those who fought and those we lost--to end a war we are no longer waging; to exercise Congress's war powers-- the most solemn duty of this body--because Saddam Hussein has been dead for 20 years and his regime is gone; because the Iraq of 2023 is, obviously, not the Iraq of 2003; because Kuwait has been a secure, sovereign, and committed U.S. partner for over three decades; and because the threats that these authorizations address no longer exist. The United States is no longer an occupying force. Iraq is now a strategic partner. It is time to confront the challenges of the region and of the world together. Repealing these authorizations is an important step forward. It removes an irritant in the bilateral relationship, and it cements our partnership. It helps Iraq move forward, independent and more integrated with its Arab neighbors. So, Mr. President, I come to the floor today to support, in the strongest terms possible, the repeal of the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force against Iraq once and for all. Let's mark the 20th anniversary this week of the Iraq war by paying tribute to the Iraqis who have suffered, to the Americans we lost, and to the American families who have provided unconditional support for those who have served every day for the last 20 years. We will never forget the sacrifices they made in defense of the values we hold most dear. Let's honor those values by doing what Congress is supposed to do. When there is a need, it declares war, and when that is over, it is time to end the declaration and the authorization. That is what we have the power to do today. With that, I yield the floor. Vote on Motion to Proceed

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, as Senators, our gravest responsibility is deciding when to authorize the use of military force because that is a decision about life and death. It is a decision about sending our sons and daughters into harm's way. More than 20 years ago, we voted on whether to authorize the use of military force against Iraq. Decades later, we have a chance to formally end that war and claw back an outdated authority. When authorizations for military force have outlived the purpose that Congress intended, we should repeal them. We should repeal them to ensure that Congress determines when to send Americans into harm's way, so that our laws reflect current threats and protect U.S. interests, and to guard against future executive abuse. Now, it has taken a long time to get here. I want to commend Senators Kaine and Young, two esteemed members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who have been pursuing repeal of the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs against Iraq for years, and I applaud their relentless focus on this issue. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, we cannot ignore its heavy toll. It destabilized the Middle East. It empowered Iran. It turned al-Qaida into a regional franchise. By some estimates, it killed more than a half million Iraqis. It was a war our partners in the region did not support, and it damaged American leadership on the global stage. But, most gravely, it cost our Nation nearly 5,000 lives--Americans who fought bravely and served their Nation and didn't ask the question whether it is right or wrong but just answered the call. Now, I am proud to have voted against going to war with Iraq in 2002 when I served in the House. I believe history has proven that that was the right call. But that is not the question before us today. The Iraq of 2023 is far different than the Iraq of 2003. Today, Iraq is a critical strategic partner. We fight ISIS together. We protect American personnel and American assets together. This relationship also goes far beyond security. We are partnering on health, education, on climate change. We are working to stabilize global energy markets together. Repealing these outdated authorizations would cement this important relationship with serious bilateral diplomacy. It would help Iraq chart a course for the future that is independent and more closely integrated with its Arab neighbors. It also removes a major Iranian talking point, however false, that the United States is a colonial power in Iraq. Now, there are real threats in this part of the world. We must be clear-eyed about those, but the answer to those threats is not the 1991 or 2002 AUMF. Now, I know, when we get to amendments, my colleagues will offer amendments to this bill. They will try to delay repeal. They will argue that we need these authorizations to respond to Iranian-led and Iranian-backed attacks. They may even offer amendments to expand these authorizations and give the President even broader authority. But I urge my colleagues to remember this: The President is clear in his view that he has the authority, under the 2001 AUMF and the Constitution, for defensive military operations against ISIS or Iranian threats against U.S. personnel and interests. In fact, the President has responded to Iranian-led and Iranian-backed attacks repeatedly and has done so without--without--relying on the 2002 AUMF. Now, take it from me, as someone who has worked for decades to confront the challenge of Iran, I know well the threat that Iran poses to us and to our allies in the region. We cannot be naive about their intentions, and we need to have the political will to respond how and when we deem necessary. But repeal will have no impact on our ability to defend U.S. interests against Iran--none whatsoever. After 20 years, this is a defining moment. Congress needs to repeal these authorizations for the use of military force to reassert our constitutional role on war powers. We should not just declare war; we need to be able to end them as well. And let's be clear: This is not some theoretical debate. This is about the lives of our servicemen and -women who may be called upon to fight and make the ultimate sacrifice. In our democracy, those decisions must be made by Congress. So I am proud that we are stepping up to have the difficult debates that we should have. And I look forward to passing this bill with a strong bipartisan vote, as it passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has jurisdiction over the authorizations for use of military force. That bipartisan vote there, I think, will be reflected in a bipartisan vote in the House. I urge my colleagues to vote to repeal these authorizations, and, in the first instance, to start by doing so by voting to have cloture. I yield the floor.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that Joshua Kretman, a detailee from the State Department to the Foreign Relations Committee, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the 118th Congress.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I rise today as Black History Month comes to a close to pay tribute to Black Americans who have played pivotal roles in shaping American foreign policy and advancing national security abroad. As leaders and change-makers who have served the American people around the world, translating their own experiences fighting for justice and freedom in the United States into their passion for advancing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law overseas. From the first Black diplomat Ebenezer Bassett, who served as Ambassador to Haiti from 1869 to 1877, to Ambassador Linda Thomas- Greenfield, who today serves as U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Black Americans have been at the forefront of advancing U.S. foreign policy. Black Americans like Nobel Laureate Dr. Ralph Bunche, who mediated the 1949 Armistice Agreement and assisted in the creation of the United Nation's Universal Declaration for Human Rights; Ambassador Edward Perkins, who was instrumental in the 1992 creation of the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship; and Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams, who advanced the 2009 reopening of programs in Colombia, Sierra Leone, and Indonesia, have broken down barriers and made our world a better place. And yet, while we have made great strides in increasing representation throughout our diplomatic and development corps' ranks, our work is clearly far from over. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's first-ever government-wide diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility--DEIA--report, released earlier this month, Black Americans comprise just 12 percent of the Senior Executive Service--SES--workforce. And these findings are not limited to our domestic agencies. As I said at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's first-ever DEIA hearing convened last year, between 2002 and 2021, the overall proportion of Black employees at the State Department decreased from 17 percent to 15 percent. At the time of our hearing, there were only four career Black Ambassadors serving abroad. This failure to harness America's diverse talent pool is not only a grave error, but it also places us at a significant disadvantage when we seek to engage our allies and counter our adversaries on the world stage. That is why, as the highest ranking Latino in the U.S. Congress and the first chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of Latino descent, one of my top priorities has been to promote and expand diversity in our domestic and international affairs agencies, including in our most senior levels. That is why I introduced diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility--DEIA--provisions as part of last year's State Department authorization bill, which passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2023. And, why it is so important to support paid internship programs and fellowships in Congress, the State Department, USAID, Peace Corps, and all of our international affairs agencies. Because without these opportunities, many students of color would be unable to afford to come work in Washington, DC. Our diversity continues to be our Nation's greatest source of strength, and we must act on this moral and strategic imperative to cultivate a representative workforce, because, in every single world crisis that the United States faces, a more diverse and more representative U.S. diplomatic corps would be a valuable asset. A few years ago, when I was traveling in China, the diplomat in charge of democracy and human rights programs at our Embassy had participated in the civil rights struggle. His personal history, his personal eyewitness accounts of trying to change the course of events in our country as an African American man, were a powerful example to those fighting for democracy and human rights in China. I can recount easily dozens of moments in different parts of the world where Americans from diverse backgrounds have made a powerful case for our country. These life experiences cannot be replicated, they cannot be purchased, and they cannot be bought. So, as Black History Month comes to a close, let us not only remember the critical contributions of African-Americans in the formulation and execution of U.S. foreign policy, let us also recommit to doing our part to prepare the leaders who will strengthen and secure our national security in the future.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD- 423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, this amendment is about justice and restitution. Twenty-one years ago, on a cloudless morning in 2001, nearly 3,000 Americans, including 750 from my home State of New Jersey, were senselessly murdered in the terrorist attacks on September 11. Mr. President, 9/11 families are the reason why ``Never Forget'' continues to be a clarion call in this Congress. They are the reason we seek a vote on the Fairness for 9/11 Families Act. I do this alongside Senators Cotton and Sullivan, who worked with me to bring justice and relief to also the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing victims and so many other Americans who have suffered at the hands of state sponsors of terrorism. Our amendment is straightforward. It expands coverage of the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund to deliver justice and relief to previously excluded 9/11 families who, because of this exclusion, lost out on the ability to get some of the compensation, as well as the families of the victims of the Beirut Marine barracks bombing and the Khobar Towers attack. Many of these families have waited for years--and, in some cases, decades--for relief, and that is what we seek today. I believe that we can take a voice vote. I turn to Senator Whitehouse, yield to him for a moment. I know he wants to speak to it.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, the committee finished a report entitled, ``Enhancing Transparency on International Agreements and Non- Binding Instruments.'' I ask unanimous consent that a copy of that report be printed in the Record.