Chairman's Press
Corker Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after reports of a nuclear test by North Korea, the fifth conducted by the regime in the past decade. "Words alone from the Obama administration, China, and the United Nations Security Council will not stop the North Korea nuclear threat," said Corker. "Earlier this year, with bipartisan support, Congress passed the strongest North Korea sanctions legislat… Continue Reading
September 08, 2016
Corker Expresses Frustration over Pakistan Harboring Haqqani Network Terrorists
WASHINGTON - During a hearing on U.S. policy toward Pakistan, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed continued frustration over Pakistan's refusal to target the Haqqani network, a leading terrorist affiliate of the Taliban that is responsible for attacking American and NATO troops and threatening the U.S. objectives in Afghanistan. He accused Pakistan's military and intelligence service of duplicity for providing safe haven to the Haqqani… Continue Reading
September 08, 2016
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on “Pakistan: Challenges for U.S. Interests”
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: "Pakistan: Challenges for U.S. Interests" Thursday, September 8, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement I'll just generally outline that our relationship with Pakistan has been very complicated. I think we've gone through a period of time where we've both viewed our relationship as very transactional. We went through a period of time where we tried to change that and deal with Pakistan in a differen… Continue Reading
September 07, 2016
Corker Warns Against Obama U.N. Plan to Endorse Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned against an emerging plan by the Obama administration to endorse an international ban on nuclear testing at the United Nations (U.N.) without Senate approval. The committee held a hearing today to examine the legal consequences from such action and the implications for the Senate's constitutional authority to provide advice and consent prior to U.S. ratification of treaties. "I just want to… Continue Reading
September 07, 2016
Corker on MSNBC: The American People Need Greater Transparency from the Administration on Iran
WASHINGTON - On MSNBC's Morning Joe today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Congress and the American people need greater transparency from the Obama administration after new details emerged yesterday regarding $1.7 billion in U.S. cash payments to Iran provided in conjunction with the release of American hostages in January. "The fact is that just by…[the administration's] own description of using those dollars as leverage to ca… Continue Reading
September 06, 2016
Corker Statement on Latest North Korea Missile Test
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today after reports that North Korea fired three medium-range missiles as the Group of 20 economic summit was underway in China. "It is highly discouraging that China does little as North Korea continues to test and develop its missile and nuclear programs," said Corker. "China wants the international respect due a country of its size, yet it refuses to re… Continue Reading
September 05, 2016
Corker Says Countries Will Continue to Take Advantage of U.S. in Coming Months
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement. "Just as we saw our allies in Europe dissing us over the TTIP negotiations last week, and today China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea while we sit at the table with them, we can expect many countries to strongly position themselves against our interests in the coming months," said Corker. "They will take advantage of a nation that behaves… Continue Reading
September 05, 2016
Corker Statement on Failure of Syria Peace Talks
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after talks between the United States and Russia ended without an agreement on ending violence in Syria. "Russia and the rest of the world knows there are no consequences when negotiations break down with the U.S.," said Corker. "They have known so since Assad crossed the red line in 2013 and we subsequently decided to jump into Russia's lap. I am deeply s… Continue Reading
August 15, 2016
Corker Stresses U.S. Support for Ukraine Amid Increasing Russian Provocation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Following a phone call with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stressed continued U.S. support for Ukraine amid reports of increasing Russian military mobilization in Crimea. "This morning, I spoke with Ambassador Pyatt about the ways that Putin is putting pressure on Ukraine and the restraint that the Ukrainians are showing," said Corker. "With Russian forces illegally occupying … Continue Reading
August 15, 2016
Corker Strongly Opposes Obama Promoting Ratification of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at UN
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In a letter to President Barack Obama on Friday, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed strong opposition to the president's plan to propose a U.N. Security Council Resolution that could reinforce the objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) as international law without a two-thirds vote of the United States Senate, a requirement under the Constitution for U.S. ratification of treaties. In Octobe… Continue Reading
July 19, 2016
Corker: Document Reveals Key Flaw in Iran Nuclear Deal
CLEVELAND - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding an Associated Press report that reveals how certain restrictions imposed under the Iran nuclear deal end after 10 years, allowing Tehran to reduce the time necessary for developing a nuclear weapon. "The details in these documents - which my colleagues and I had access to very early on - were among the many reasons I opposed this nuclear deal," said Cor… Continue Reading
July 18, 2016
Joint Statement by Congressional Leaders on Violence in South Sudan
Washington, D.C. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN), Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD), and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) released the following statement Monday regarding the escalating violence in South Sudan that has put the peace agreement at grave risk: "Urgent action is needed to prevent further bloodshed in South Sudan and to sustain the prospect of peace. Escalating violence in Juba and other p… Continue Reading
July 15, 2016
Corker Statement on Terrorist Attack in Nice
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding the terrorist attack yesterday in Nice, France. "We are heartbroken by the senseless terror attack in Nice that took the lives of so many innocent people," said Corker. "The United States mourns with the people of France and joins them in solidarity to confront the evil responsible for this attack. Working with the French and our other foreign pa… Continue Reading
July 14, 2016
Corker: U.S. Policy Must not be Held Hostage by Iranian Threats to Walk Away from Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON - During a hearing today to assess the Iran nuclear deal one year later, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reaffirmed his opposition to the agreement and warned against U.S. policy being held hostage by Iranian threats to walk away from its nuclear commitments. Today, Corker introduced bipartisan legislation that expands sanctions for ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, and other illicit Iranian actions; sanctions … Continue Reading
July 14, 2016
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "The Iran Nuclear Agreement: One Year Later"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: The Iran Nuclear Agreement: One Year Later Thursday, July 14, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement I'd like to thank our witnesses for testifying today. Both of you have been great resources for this committee as we continue to develop and refine our policies towards Iran. So, thank you both for again appearing. I personally opposed the Iran nuclear deal because I did not believe that it would u… Continue Reading
July 13, 2016
Senators to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Hold Iran Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today announced they will introduce the Countering Iranian Threats Act of 2016. The bipartisan bill expands sanctions for ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, and other illicit Iranian actions; sanctions transfers of conventional weapons to or from Iran; and extends the Iran Sanctions Act. "As many anticipated, Iran continues to test the will of the United … Continue Reading
July 12, 2016
Corker: Continued Progress Needed to Strengthen Integrity of Human Trafficking Report
WASHINGTON - During a hearing today to examine the State Department's 2016 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted improvements over last year's report but argued for continued progress to strengthen the integrity of the Tier Rankings that will help support global efforts to fight human trafficking and end modern slavery. The annual report ranks countries based upon their commitment to enforcing laws agains… Continue Reading
July 12, 2016
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "Review of the 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Hearing: Review of the 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report Tuesday, July 12, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement Today, we will examine the recently released 2016 State Department Trafficking in Persons Report. The integrity of last year's report was called into question because of controversy over how the Tier Rankings were made regarding certain countries. This report and Tier Ranking… Continue Reading
July 12, 2016
Corker Statement on Ruling in South China Sea Maritime Dispute
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) issued a ruling that invalidates China's expansive sea claims surrounding disputed areas of the South China Sea. In 2013, the Philippines challenged China's attempts to establish control over an area encompassing nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea. The PCA settles disputes among states, state-entities, international orga… Continue Reading
July 08, 2016
Corker Applauds South Korea’s Decision to Enable Deployment of U.S. Missile Defense System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded South Korea's decision to enable deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system as a deterrent to the North Korea ballistic missile threat. "South Korea's decision to enable deployment of this system is a significant step in strengthening our alliance's capability to deter the North Korean ballistic missile threat," said Corker. "This imp… Continue Reading
