WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the national security provisions of President Joe Biden’s 2023 federal budget request released on Monday:
“After years of neglect under the previous administration, I’m pleased to see President Biden propose a serious investment across all elements of our national security toolkit, including an increase of more than ten percent over last year’s enacted level for our diplomacy and development efforts. Just as a strong military is critical to safeguard our interests, robust diplomacy and development are essential to promote our values and advance our prosperity.
“With the butcher of Moscow trying to slaughter his way into Ukraine, a recalcitrant Iran eager for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, a rising China, genocides from Burma to Ethiopia, and amidst a continuing global health crisis, I look forward to having Secretary Blinken testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 26th so we can make certain the Biden administration continues setting the right priorities to match our nation’s values, security needs, and our ability to meet the old and new threats we face.”
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