Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted the following statement today for the hearing to confirm Susan Rice as the Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations:

“The United Nations is an imperfect institution, but it is still a remarkable one that serves vital humanitarian needs for the world’s most vulnerable and in many cases forgotten populations.  From the thousands of troops deployed on peacekeeping missions, to providing vital services to millions of refugees, from combating global disease, to feeding the world’s hungry, tens of millions of men, women and children have been given a lifeline by United Nations programs—programs which the United States must continue to support.  Dr. Rice, I look forward to working with you in advancing America’s interests at the United Nations and to reforming and strengthening that institution to better serve us all.” 

This morning I gave my opening statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the nomination hearing of Secretary-Designate of State, Hillary Clinton. I have had the pleasure of working closely with her on a wide range of issues for many years, and I look forward to our continued partnership and to her leadership as Secretary of State. I have no doubt she will do a remarkable job.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement at the Foreign Relations Committee hearing to confirm Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State:

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of its subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, today issued the following statement after President-Elect Obama announced several nominations for his national security team:

“I applaud President-Elect Obama’s nomination of an experienced national security team.  Hillary Clinton, James Jones, Robert Gates, Janet Napolitano, Eric Holder, and Susan Rice each have a proven record of pragmatic problem-solving and bipartisan cooperation on a host of complex challenges to U.S. national security. 

Latin America is experiencing a positive revolution of sorts. Petty military dictators and East-West ideological struggle are things of the past. Political inclusion has expanded massively through overwhelmingly democratic processes, and millions of South and Central Americans have new expectations of their governments. Like anywhere, democracy in the region is sometimes messy, and mistakes are sometimes made. But the change is good.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, released the following statement today on the Government of Ecuador opening a consulate in New Haven, CT. An estimated 50,000 Ecuadorians live in Connecticut.

Accepts Award for Work to Promote Human Rights in Latin America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) was honored by the Washington Office on Latin America for his work in Congress to support and strengthen human rights in Latin America.  Dodd accepted WOLA’s 2008 Human Rights Award at their annual gala, where he also addressed his vision for a strategic partnership between the United States and Latin America.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, took to the floor of the U.S. Senate this afternoon to offer an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill.  Dodd’s amendment, co-sponsored by Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN), would temporarily ease restrictions on certain regulations in order to address the humanitarian crisis in Cuba caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike and Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, released the following statement today on the Venezuelan government’s decision to expel United States Ambassador Patrick Duddy.

Senator Chris Dodd, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, released the following statement today on the Bolivian government’s decision to expel United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

“I condemn the Bolivian government’s decision to expel U.S. Ambassador Goldberg from La Paz.  This action is unjustified and only serves to further undermine the relationship between the United States and Bolivia.  
 
“I have urged – and continue to urge – Bolivians on all sides of current tensions to “lower the temperature” and restrain from undemocratic, destabilizing actions of any kind.  We do not condone illegal acts by either side, including the violent attacks against economic targets this week.
 
“The United States, including our Embassy in La Paz, is committed to working closely and constructively with all members of Bolivian society on stemming the illegal production and flow of narcotics and other matters of mutual interest.”