Chairman's Press
Corker on New Iran Sanctions: “We Finally Are Pushing Back in the Way That We Should”
WASHINGTON - During an interview on CNBC's "Closing Bell", U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today credited the Trump administration for imposing new sanctions on Iran following Tehran's most recent ballistic missile test that violated a U.N. Security Council resolution. "We finally are pushing back [on Iran] in the way that we should," said Corker. "They've violated the missile test ban; they've violated conventional weapons purchases; they'… Continue Reading
February 03, 2017
Corker Statement on Trump Administration Sanctions Against Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the Trump administration's sanctions against Iran. "This announcement makes clear that it is a new day in U.S.-Iran relations and that we will no longer tolerate Iran's destabilizing behavior," said Corker. "A coordinated, multi-faceted effort to pushback against a range of illicit Iranian behavior is long overdue, and after speaking with Gene… Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
Cardin, Corker Lead 20 Bipartisan Colleagues in Iran Letter to President Trump
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 20 of their bipartisan colleagues today in a letter to President Trump after reports that Iran conducted a ballistic missile test late last week. Joining Senators Cardin and Corker on the letter are Democratic Senators Tim Kaine (Va.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Chris Coons (Del.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Robert Menendez (N.J.), Bob Casey (Penn… Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
Corker Anticipates “Coordinated, Multi-Faceted Effort to Push Back” on Iran
WASHINGTON - During an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, anticipated the U.S. will engage in a "coordinated, multi-faceted effort to push back" against Iran's most recent ballistic missile test and its other destabilizing actions in the Middle East. He also reiterated his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and discussed the Obama administration's failure to respond to previous Iranian ballistic missi… Continue Reading
February 01, 2017
Corker: Senate Confirms Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined members of the Senate in voting to confirm Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State. "Following a fair and exhaustive review in our committee, I am confident Rex Tillerson has the ability to be the effective leader the State Department needs," said Corker. "Mr. Tillerson led a global enterprise with 75,000 employees, possesses deep relationships around the world, and understands the cr… Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Corker, Cardin Announce Subcommittee Membership for 115th Congress
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved subcommittee membership, jurisdiction, rules and the budget for the committee in the 115th Congress. The subcommittee assignments are listed below and available online here. The committee's jurisdiction and rules are available here. Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism Senator James E. Risch (R-Idaho) - Chairman Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) - Ranking Member Senator Mar… Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Corker: U.S. Must Challenge Existing Assumptions in Addressing North Korean Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Threat
WASHINGTON - During a hearing to consider options for addressing the growing North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile threat, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today urged the U.S. to "challenge existing assumptions and explore policy alternatives", noting that even as the U.S. ramped up sanctions targeting Pyongyang, the "current approach is not working" to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. "For nearly three decades, successive Republican… Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "Confronting the North Korea Threat: Reassessing Policy Options"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Hearing: "Confronting the North Korea Threat: Reassessing Policy Options" January 31, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement The North Korea threat is one of the most urgent security challenges facing the United States. Yet for nearly three decades, successive Republican and Democratic administrations have pursued the seemingly elusive goal of North Korean denuclearization with little to show for t… Continue Reading
January 30, 2017
Corker: Rex Tillerson Will Be “Effective Leader” of State Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today urged his colleagues to support the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State. A majority of senators approved a procedural motion on Monday evening that will set a final vote on Tillerson's nomination on Wednesday. "As we proceed in ensuring the new administration has the leaders it needs to implement our nation's foreign policy going forward, I have great confidence that Rex Ti… Continue Reading
January 30, 2017
Corker Condemns Iran for Latest Ballistic Missile Violation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today condemned Iran for reportedly conducting a ballistic missile test in violation of its international commitments. U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses provisions of the Iran nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) "calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including laun… Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Corker Votes to Confirm Nikki Haley as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today voted to confirm Governor Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The Senate voted 96 to 4 in favor of her nomination this afternoon. Earlier in the day, Corker joined members of the committee in voting to favorably report her nomination to the full Senate for consideration. "I'm pleased to support Governor Nikki Haley as our ambassador to the United Nations,… Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Corker Statement on Trump Executive Order to Advance Completion of Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement after President Donald J. Trump announced the signing of an executive order to advance completion of the Keystone XL pipeline. The Obama administration previously denied approval for the final segment of the Keystone XL pipeline in 2015 after years of exhaustive study and delays. "I am pleased years of illogical and political delays preventing completion of the … Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Nomination of Nikki Haley to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined a majority of committee members in voting to favorably report the nomination of Governor Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to the full Senate for consideration. "Governor Haley is a fierce advocate for American interests," said Corker. "As South Carolina's Governor, Nikki Haley is a proven leader. I believe she has the instincts that will help her… Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined a majority of committee members in voting to favorably report the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State to the full Senate for consideration. "I personally have no doubt that Rex Tillerson is well-qualified," said Corker. "He's managed the world's eighth largest company by revenue with over 75,000 employees. Diplomacy has been a critical component of his positions in t… Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Business Meeting to Consider Nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Business Meeting: Nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State January 23, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement Confirmation of secretary of state is always one of this committee's most important responsibilities. At the core of the nomination process is the question of whether the nominee is qualified to undertake the duties for which he or she is nominated. I personally have no doubt that Rex Tille… Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Nomination Hearing for Nikki Haley to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Nomination Hearing: The Honorable Nikki R. Haley, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations January 18, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman The United Nations Security Council was created after World War II to create stability and to maintain security in the world. And yet as we look around the world today, it is failing in its cause of peace and security. We can only look to Syria,… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Corker Statement on Committee Approval of Montenegro’s Bid for NATO Membership
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding committee approval of a resolution of advice and consent supporting Montenegro's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The committee passed the Montenegro resolution last year, but the Senate did not act on it before the end of the 114th Congress. Representatives of the 28 member states signed the accession protocol for Monten… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Corker Announces Support for Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced his support for Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State. "From the beginning of this process, I have been committed to ensuring the nominee for Secretary of State receives a fair and thorough hearing, and I am incredibly impressed with how Rex Tillerson has conducted himself," said Corker. "Based on what I know today, I believe Mr. Tillerson has the potential to be an outstanding S… Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Nomination Hearing for Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Nomination Hearing: Mr. Rex Wayne Tillerson of Texas, to be Secretary Of State January 11, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement We have some new members of the committee today. I was thinking prior to this hearing that 10 years ago, I came on this committee as a new senator. In many ways to broaden my ability to serve our nation and to serve our state, having been mostly a business person. When I came h… Continue Reading
December 22, 2016
Corker Statement on Confirmation Process for Rex Tillerson
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the confirmation process for Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson. "As is long-standing precedent for nominees considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the committee has not asked Mr. Tillerson to provide copies of his tax returns," said Corker. "By all accounts, Mr. Tillerson is currently ahead of schedule in providing inf… Continue Reading
