This upcoming Sunday, the people of Venezuela will hold an election that, if legitimate, would put an end to years of the oppressive Maduro narco-regime. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement in support of the Venezuelan people: “The...
News
Latest News
Rubio: “La Tenacidad y Valentía del Pueblo venezolano Estarán a la Vista”
Este próximo domingo, el pueblo venezolano tendrá una elección que, de ser legítima, pondría fin a años de opresión por parte del narco-régimen de Maduro. El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) grabó un mensaje de video en español y emitió una declaración en...
Rubio, Scott, Colleagues to Biden Admin: No Privileges Should Be Given to 9/11 Terrorist
Twenty-three years ago, the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Now, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court for his role in the attack, has requested the U.S. Department of Justice to allow a prisoner transfer...
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Continuity in Veterans’ Health Act
As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opens up new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the VA’s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care, including...
Rubio Introduces Bill to Strengthen U.S.-India Security Partnership
The U.S.-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)...
Rubio Joins Menendez, Risch, and Colleagues in Calling for U.S. to Prioritize Democracy, Human Rights at ASEAN Summit
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to President Joe Biden calling for democracy, good governance, and human rights to be top priorities in the upcoming U.S.-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Leaders Summit. In light of recent trends toward democratic backsliding in Southeast Asia, the senators emphasized their concern that, if left unaddressed, developing dynamics in the region could undermine the United States’ efforts to work with partners to build a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“We strongly support your Administration’s hosting this gathering, and believe that strengthening and deepening U.S. engagement with ASEAN and working with our ASEAN partners to build functional problem-solving regional architecture are essential for the success of the larger Indo-Pacific strategy,” the senators wrote. “Indeed, as your Administration seeks to build a ‘Year of Action’ to turn commitments from the Summit for Democracy into concrete results that shore up democracies around the world – notably pushing back against the illusory appeal of authoritarianism, defending and promoting respect for human rights, and combating corruption – the U.S.-ASEAN Summit provides an important opportunity to demonstrate in tangible ways that our aspirations carry with them real and demonstrable policy action.”
To that end, the senators also requested a consultation between their offices and appropriate Administration officials at the earliest possible time to discuss planning and proposed activities at the Summit.
Rubio is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Risch and Menendez are Ranking Member and Chairman, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Rubio, Menendez, and Risch were joined in signing the letter by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Todd Young (R-IN), and Chris Coons (D-DE).
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Mr. President,
As you prepare for the U.S.-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Leaders Summit now scheduled for March 28 and 29, we urge you to place democracy, good governance, and human rights as key items on the Summit’s agenda.
We strongly support your Administration’s hosting this gathering, and believe that strengthening and deepening U.S. engagement with ASEAN and working with our ASEAN partners to build functional problem-solving regional architecture are essential for the success of the larger Indo-Pacific strategy.
We are likewise concerned, however, with what can only be characterized as a trend of “democratic backsliding” in Southeast Asia over the past several years, including last year’s coup in Burma, and fear that if left unaddressed this dynamic will undermine U.S. efforts to work with our partners to construct a free and open Indo-Pacific animated not just by shared interests but by shared values. Indeed, as your Administration seeks to build a “Year of Action” to turn commitments from the Summit for Democracy into concrete results that shore up democracies around the world – notably pushing back against the illusory appeal of authoritarianism, defending and promoting respect for human rights, and combating corruption – the U.S.-ASEAN Summit provides an important opportunity to demonstrate in tangible ways that our aspirations carry with them real and demonstrable policy action.
To that end, we request a consultation between our offices and appropriate Administration officials at the earliest possible time to discuss your planning and proposed activities to address democracy, rule of law, human rights and good governance for the U.S.-ASEAN Summit.
Sincerely,