Cardin Replaces Menendez as Senate Foreign Relations Chair
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., replaced Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after Menendez stepped down from the role last week amid a federal bribery indictment. Menendez earlier this week pleaded not guilty to charges that he directed federal aid and weapons sales to Egypt in exchange for money and other benefits.
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Cardin said he looks forward to working with Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the committee’s top Republican, and other members “as the committee tackles the most important challenges facing our nation and the world. I intend to continue my longstanding work to ensure that human rights, anti-corruption and good governance are woven into America’s foreign policy. We have much work ahead of us.”
The committee leads oversight and is considering bills on a range of trade and sanctions-related issues. It most recently advanced legislation that could expedite certain U.S. defense exports to Australia and the U.K. (see 2309060028).