New members on the SFRC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2011

Chairman Kerry Welcomes New Members To The Foreign Relations Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement after Senate Majority Leader Reid announced committee assignments for the 112th Congress:

"We have got an outstanding group assigned to the Foreign Relations Committee and I look forward to working closely with all of the returning and new members. Senators Boxer, Menendez, Cardin, Casey, Webb, Shaheen, and Coons were invaluable in the last Congress. Without their commitment, intellect, and inquisitiveness, the Committee would never have been as productive as it was. I couldn’t ask for better colleagues.

"I’d like to welcome Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Udall (D-NM) to the Committee. I’ve worked closely with Tom on the issue of climate change and I’m glad that I’ll now get to work with him on a regular basis. Tom is conscientious and insightful, traits that will serve this Committee well.

"Dick Durbin is one of the best the Senate has to offer. His oversight of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been inestimable. His focus on HIV/AIDS and Sudan has already positively impacted the lives of thousands. I’m extremely pleased that he’ll be spending even more time focusing on our nation’s foreign affairs."