Chairman's Press
Senators Introduce Resolution Condemning Chemical Weapons Attack on Syrian Civilians
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a Senate resolution Wednesday condemning Bashar al-Assad and his regime for their continued use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people. Multiple media outlets and independent human rights organizations reported evidence of the latest chemical weapons attack Tuesday, when scores of innocent people, including children, were killed or injured. Th… Continue Reading
April 04, 2017
Corker Urges Continued Partnership with EU to Deter Russian Aggression in Europe
WASHINGTON - At a hearing on the U.S. partnership with the European Union to deter Russian aggression in Europe, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sought continued cooperation with the EU in response to Moscow's destabilizing activities, including threats to European elections this year. "Today's hearing is an opportunity to look forward and to understand how our transatlantic efforts to push back against Russian aggression can continue… Continue Reading
April 04, 2017
Corker: Suspected Chemical Attack in Syria a “Moral Outrage”
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today condemned the suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria and urged the administration to work with the European Union to hold the regime of Bashar al-Assad accountable for war crimes against his people. "The U.S., along with our European partners, must strongly condemn this moral outrage and demand accountability for Assad's war crimes," said Corker. "The regrettable failure to take militar… Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Corker Decries Venezuelan Supreme Court Assuming Legislative Power
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today decried the Venezuelan Supreme Court for assuming legislative authority that he blamed on President Nicolas Maduro as an effort to consolidate power. "The Supreme Court's attempt to usurp legislature authority is outrageous and violates established principles of democracy that are shared throughout the region," said Corker. "The U.S. and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean need to … Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Corker: Exceptional Opportunity for New Strategic Thinking in U.S. Approach to the World
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today expressed optimism about the opportunity for cooperation between Congress and the Trump administration on implementing a new strategic vision for the U.S. approach to the world. The comments came during a committee hearing featuring testimony from former national security advisor Stephen Hadley and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "We stand at a moment of exceptional opportunit… Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "The Road Ahead: U.S. Interests, Values, and the American People"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Hearing: The Road Ahead: U.S. Interests, Values, and the American People March 30, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement We spend a lot of time in this committee looking at very specific foreign policy issues. Whether it's the challenges we face as the Mosul campaign in Iraq appears to wind down or the down-in-the-weeds details of Venezuelan politics, we rightly focus much of our attention on the tact… Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "The View from Congress: U.S. Policy on Iran"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Hearing: The View from Congress: U.S. Policy on Iran March 28, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement In today's hearing we will discuss next steps in our Iran policy. One of my criticisms of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was that it would become our de-facto Middle East policy and Iran would expand their destabilizing activities. I think we are seeing a lot of that today. Regionally… Continue Reading
March 27, 2017
Corker Urges Colleagues to Support Montenegro’s Bid for NATO Membership
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today urged his Senate colleagues to support a resolution of advice and consent for Montenegro's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Senate voted 97 to 2 on a procedural motion that clears the way for a vote on final passage of Montenegro's accession to NATO later this week. The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote by the Senate before the U.S. can approve a new mem… Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Senators Introduce Comprehensive Legislation to Hold Iran Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today led a group of more than a dozen senators in introducing bipartisan legislation to hold Iran accountable. The legislation, cosponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), James E. Risch (R-Idaho), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Joe Donnelly (D-I… Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Corker Statement on Nomination of Bill Hagerty
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the nomination of William F. (Bill) Hagerty to serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan. "Japan is one of our most critical allies, and I could not imagine a more effective person in this role as the next ambassador of Japan," said Corker. "I have worked alongside Bill to negotiate significant foreign direct investment that has generated positive, materi… Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Corker: U.S. Must Prioritize Humanitarian Access, Fix Inefficiencies in Food Aid Delivery Amid Global Humanitarian Crisis
WASHINGTON - At a hearing on the state of global humanitarian affairs, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for prioritizing humanitarian access and reforming the delivery of U.S. global food assistance as the population of people suffering from conflict and failing governance is at a scale not seen since World War II. "Today's hearing is an opportunity to understand how these crises affect U.S. interests and review how we might better wo… Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on The State of Global Humanitarian Affairs
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Hearing: Flashing Red: The State of Global Humanitarian Affairs March 22, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Last month, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the executive director of the World Food Program issued a warning regarding severe food shortages sweeping across Africa. Humanitarian crises are expanding, with a famine now afflicting South Sudan, and others threatening Somalia, Nigeria, and Yemen. Each of… Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Corker: No Justice in Syria Until Assad Held Accountable for War Crimes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today lamented the humanitarian crisis in Syria and urged the U.S. to pursue accountability for war crimes as the conflict enters its seventh year. Leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees hosted a commemorative event today with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to recognize the atrocities and crimes against humanity suffered by Syrian civilians at the hands of… Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Senators Urge Continued U.S. Support for Unity, Stability in Iraq
WASHINGTON - As Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi visits Washington, U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan letter to President Donald J. Trump urging continued U.S. support to foster unity and stability in Iraq. In addition to Corker and Cardin, the letter was signed by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jeanne Shaheen… Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Corker Statement on Trump Administration Budget Blueprint
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration's budget blueprint. "I sincerely appreciate the Trump administration's effort to cut waste and encourage efficiency, but the fact is that until the president and Congress are willing to address the real drivers of our debt - Medicare and Social Security - we will be compli… Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Senators Seek Release of U.S. Citizen Sandy Phan-Gillis From Two-Year Detention in China
WASHINGTON - Ahead of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's scheduled visit to Beijing on Saturday, U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan letter to China's ambassador to the United States seeking the release of Sandy Phan-Gillis, an American citizen and Texas resident who has been held without trial in China since March 19, 2015. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted … Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Corker Convenes Hearing on Conflict in Yemen
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on the war in Yemen and efforts to resolve the three-year long conflict and combat the terrorism threat from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which controls significant territory within the country. "With the arrival of the new administration and the new reality that is emerging on the ground, it is a good time to reexamine the conflict," said Corker. "We must as… Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Nomination of David Friedman to be U.S. Ambassador to Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined a majority of committee colleagues in voting to favorably report the nomination of David Friedman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Israel to the full Senate for consideration. "Israel is our closest friend and strongest partner in the region, and this position is a vital post," said Corker. "Mr. Friedman is an impassioned advocate for America and for strengthening the mutually benefici… Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Business Meeting on Nomination of David Friedman to be U.S. Ambassador to Israel
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Business Meeting: Nomination of David Friedman to be U.S. Ambassador to Israel March 9, 2017 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement This business meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. Today we will consider the nomination of David Friedman to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Israel is our closest friend and strongest partner in the region, and this position is a vital po… Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Senate Unanimously Approves Corker Resolution on Ending Modern Slavery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded unanimous Senate passage of his resolution to raise awareness about modern slavery and human trafficking. February 23rd marked the END IT Movement's fifth annual "Shine a Light on Slavery Day." To help kick off the awareness campaign, Corker held a hearing to assess progress by the U.S. to end sexual servitude, bonded labor, and trafficking. He also later visited the Vatican where … Continue Reading
