CARDIN, RISCH, BUDD, ERNST, COONS, ROSEN, BLUMENTHAL, TILLIS ON ACCELERATING U.S.-QATAR EFFORTS TO MEDIATE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) issued a statement on bilateral relations between the United States and Qatar, and efforts to mediate the release of all hostages taken by Hamas:

"The United States and Qatar have enjoyed close relations and cooperation on economic and security issues for more than 50 years. This has been acutely important in the aftermath of the horrific eve...