Chairman's Press
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "American Food Aid: Why Reform Matters"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: American Food Aid: Why Reform MattersWednesday, April 15, 2015 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement I think people know that since 1954, U.S. international food aid programs have helped feed over three billion people and promote food security in over 150 countries. Most U.S. food aid is provided through Food for Peace, which is currently funded, on average at $1.6 billion annually Over the past five years,… Continue Reading
April 14, 2015
Corker: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Unanimously Approves Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised unanimous committee passage of the bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, which requires congressional review of any final agreement with Iran. "Despite opposition from the White House all along, I am proud of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's unanimous support of this bill that will ensure the American people - through their elected representatives - will have… Continue Reading
April 05, 2015
Corker Says Discrepancies Over Political Framework Agreement with Iran Highlight Need for Congressional Review of Any Final Deal
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Today in an appearance on Fox News Sunday, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said discrepancies between Iran and the United States over the political framework agreement that was reached last week to limit Tehran's nuclear program highlight the need for congressional review of any final deal. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on April 14 on Senator Corker's bipartisan legislation, the Iran Nuclear Agreement … Continue Reading
April 02, 2015
Corker Statement on Iran Nuclear Framework
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding today's announcement that P5-plus-one nations have reached a political framework agreement with Iran. "A nuclear-armed Iran would lead to a less safe and less secure world, which is why the stakes are so high in the pursuit of a strong agreement that is fully enforceable, verifiable and is in our national security interests," said Sen. Bob Corker… Continue Reading
March 29, 2015
Corker Urges Obama Administration and Negotiators Not to “Rush Headlong” into a Bad Deal with Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the Obama administration and negotiators for other P5-plus-one nations not to "rush headlong" into a nuclear deal with Iran just to meet a March 31 target date for a political framework agreement. Negotiations will continue until June 30, which is the final deadline for a comprehensive agreement. "I am concerned our negotiators may be cutting corners and overlooking significant issues as th… Continue Reading
March 25, 2015
Corker Statement on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s Address to a Joint Meeting of Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement in advance of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's address later today to a joint meeting of Congress. "I join my colleagues in welcoming Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to the U.S. Capitol for a joint meeting of Congress that comes at a pivotal time for his country and its relationship with the United States," said Corker. "We have a vested interest in the ability of Afghan… Continue Reading
March 24, 2015
Corker Statement on President Obama’s Announcement on U.S. Security Presence in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's announcement on plans for the U.S. security presence in Afghanistan. "I appreciate President Obama's announcement today that the United States will fulfill President Ghani's request for maintaining a stronger U.S. counter-terror and security presence in Afghanistan," said Corker. "This is the right decision in the effort to imp… Continue Reading
March 22, 2015
Corker: “Building, Strong Bipartisan Consensus” that Congress Should Review Any Final Nuclear Deal with Iran
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation" today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said there is "a building, strong bipartisan consensus" for his legislation to require congressional review of any final nuclear agreement with Iran. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the bill on April 14. "[W]e have a building, strong bipartisan consensus that at the end of the day, before anything is implemented, … Continue Reading
March 19, 2015
Corker, Menendez: Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Vote on Bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act on April 14
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced the committee will vote on the bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 on April 14. "We have been working together very closely to ensure we have the strongest vote possible on the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act and to achieve that result, we have agreed to a markup of the bill in the Foreign Relations Committee … Continue Reading
March 18, 2015
Corker Statement on Israeli Election Results
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement about the results of the national election in Israel. "The oldest and most stable democracy in the Middle East has once again gone through a hotly contested election and will peacefully form a new government. We congratulate Mr. Netanyahu on his victory and Mr. Herzog on his competitive run, and we look forward to continuing to build on our mutual interests," sa… Continue Reading
March 12, 2015
Corker to President Obama: Going Straight to U.N. on Iran Nuclear Deal Would Be “Direct Affront to the American People”
WASHINGTON - In a letter to President Barack Obama today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said any effort by the administration to circumvent Congress and go straight to the United Nations Security Council to implement a nuclear agreement with Iran would be "a direct affront to the American people." In the letter, Corker writes, "As you are also aware, there is significant and growing bipartisan support for Congress to consider and, as appr… Continue Reading
March 11, 2015
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "The President's Request for Authorization to Use Force Against ISIS: Military and Diplomatic Efforts"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: The President's Request for Authorization to Use Force Against ISIS: Military and Diplomatic Efforts Wednesday, March 11, 2015 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement I want to welcome our distinguished witnesses today, and thank them for being here. This is an important topic. We know that each of you have been traveling extensively, and again want to thank you for being with us today to share your insights. … Continue Reading
March 10, 2015
Corker: Failure to Deliver on Commitments to Ukraine a Blight on U.S. Policy
WASHINGTON - Reflecting bipartisan concern in Congress over the Obama administration's hesitant response to Russian violations of a second ceasefire in Ukraine, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today at a committee hearing on the crisis in Ukraine referred to the administration's failure to deliver on military and non-military assistance for Ukraine as "a blight" on 70 years of defending democracy in Europe. "Our country made a commitment in… Continue Reading
March 10, 2015
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "U.S. Policy in Ukraine: Countering Russia and Driving Reform
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: U.S. Policy In Ukraine: Countering Russia and Driving Reform Tuesday, March 10, 2015 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement I want to begin this hearing by expressing my condolences to the family of Boris Nemtsov and the people of Russia. The murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov just outside the Kremlin appears to be an attempt to silence those in Russia who want to see their country move away fro… Continue Reading
March 09, 2015
Corker, Menendez Seek Obama Administration Report on Defensive Lethal Assistance for Ukraine
WASHINGTON - In a letter to President Barack Obama today, U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asked the administration to submit a report to Congress on plans for providing defensive lethal assistance to Ukraine. The report, required by law under the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, was due on February 15. "We write to ask that you immediately submit to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a re… Continue Reading
March 05, 2015
Corker Seeks Veto-Proof Majority for Bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - With bipartisan momentum building in the Senate behind legislation to require congressional review of a nuclear deal with Iran, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the effort to seek support from a supermajority of 67 senators to override a presidential veto of the bill, which the White House threatened last week. "The strongest signal we can send to the U.S. negotiators is ha… Continue Reading
March 04, 2015
Corker Statement on Pursuit of Committee Vote on Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he continues to pursue a committee vote on his bipartisan legislation requiring congressional review of any final nuclear agreement with Iran. "I am encouraged by the growing support for the bipartisan Corker-Menendez Iran bill and look forward to working through the committee process to build additional support so that Congress has the ability to weigh in on behalf of the American people on… Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Corker Statement on Senate Consideration of Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he welcomed upcoming Senate consideration of his bipartisan bill requiring congressional review of any comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced the legislation will be taken up on the Senate floor next week. Senator Corker indicated the Foreign Relations Committee could vote on the bill next Tuesday and the resulting legislation would… Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Corker Statement on Netanyahu Address to Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress today. "Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a very strong speech, dispelled any sense of partisanship and focused on what is one of the greatest national security issues of our time. Israel is a great friend and ally to the United States, and it is important that our relati… Continue Reading
February 28, 2015
Corker Statement on White House Veto Threat Against Bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement regarding the White House's threat of a presidential veto against his bipartisan bill requiring congressional review of any comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran. "It is disappointing that the president feels he is the only one who speaks for the citizens of our country," said Corker. "Congress put these sanctions in place and helped bring Iran to the tabl… Continue Reading
