Ranking Member's Press
Corker: Global Food Security Act Reauthorization to Become Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised passage of legislation reauthorizing The Global Food Security Act, which will now go to the president's desk to be signed into law. The bill also reauthorizes the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Emergency Food Security Program (EFSP). USAID has relied increasingly upon EFSP to avoid constraints that would prevent delivery of emergency food aid through the Food for… Continue Reading
September 28, 2018
Corker, Coons Praise House Passage of BUILD Act in FAA Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised House of Representative's passage of The Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (BUILD Act) as part of legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). With strong support in Congress, from the administration, and among key stakeholders, the BUILD Act, coauthored by Corker and Coons in the Senate, will p… Continue Reading
September 26, 2018
Corker, Menendez: PEPFAR Reauthorization Bill Passes Committee, Extends Successful U.S. Program to Combat HIV/AIDS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised committee passage of their legislation to extend the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for another five years. PEPFAR was established in 2003 as an emergency response to alleviate the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, primarily on the continent of Africa. "For more than 15 years, PEPFAR has saved millions of lives by beginning … Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Corker: Peace Corps Reform Bill to Become Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised passage of Peace Corps reform legislation he authored in the Senate, which will now be sent to the president's desk to be signed into law. The Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 will improve access to medical care for volunteers, strengthen accountability and oversight, and enhance procedures to reduce the risk of crime in the countries in which volunteers serve.… Continue Reading
September 18, 2018
Corker Holds Fourth in Series of Hearings on US-Russia Relations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following remarks during a hearing on the status of U.S.-Russia arms control efforts. The hearing was the fourth in a series examining U.S. policy toward Russia. The committee heard testimony from Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea L. Thompson and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy David J. Trachtenberg. "First, I want to thank our wit… Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Corker Convenes Third in Series of Hearings on US-Russia Relations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following remarks during a hearing on the value of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The hearing was the third in a series examining U.S. policy toward Russia. The committee heard testimony from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations; Nicholas Burns, former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO; and Stanley Sloan, a professor at Middlebury Col… Continue Reading
August 21, 2018
Corker Convenes Second in Series of Hearings on US-Russia Relations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following remarks during a hearing on U.S.-Russia relations. The hearing is the second in a series examining U.S. policy toward Russia. "We want to thank our witnesses for being here today for the second in a series of hearings on Russia. "This committee is attempting to get a clearer sense of the administration's overall posture on Russia. And again, we thank you both for be… Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Corker Convenes Nomination Hearing for Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following remarks during a hearing on the nomination of Ambassador David Hale to serve as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. "Today we will consider the nomination of Ambassador David Hale to serve our country as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs at the State Department. "We welcome you and thank you for your service to our country for many, many yea… Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Corker Convenes Hearing for Nominee to Head State Department Trafficking in Persons Office
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday convened a hearing on nominations for Director of the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs (PM). The committee heard testimony from John Richmond, the nominee for the TIP office, and R. Clarke Cooper, the nominee for the PM bureau. "We cannot forget that modern slavery exists because pe… Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
Corker, Menendez Applaud Committee Passage of Bill Demanding Turkey End Unjust Detention of US Citizens
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded committee passage of their bipartisan legislation demanding Turkey end the unjust detention of U.S. citizens in Turkey, including Pastor Andrew Brunson. The bill, introduced last week along with Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), would restrict loans from internati… Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing Featuring Testimony From Secretary of State Pompeo
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered the following opening statement at a hearing featuring testimony from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on President Donald J. Trump's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the administration's ongoing dialogue with North Korea. "Secretary Pompeo, we are glad to have you here today. We are grateful for your service to our country. I have faith in your leade… Continue Reading
July 24, 2018
Senate Committees Announce Series of Hearings on Russia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, today announced their committees will hold a series of hearings on Russia. "We worked closely together to write the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which substantially expanded sanctions on Russia and overwhelmingly passed both the Senate and House last summer, and are eager to continue the important work… Continue Reading
July 19, 2018
Senators Introduce Bill Demanding Turkey End Unjust Detention of US Citizens
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation with Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) to restrict loans from international financial institutions to Turkey until the Turkish government ends the unjust detention of U.S. citizens. In 2016, Turkey imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson a… Continue Reading
July 12, 2018
Corker Convenes Hearing on International Implications of US Trade Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on the implications of tariffs for U.S. foreign policy and the international economy. The hearing examined the domestic and international impact of recent trade actions by the administration, including the implementation of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. The committee heard testimony from Assistant Secretary of State for … Continue Reading
July 11, 2018
Corker: Committee Approves Resolution Supporting NATO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today voted for committee passage of a resolution expressing support for the strategic importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to the United States and urging its member states to work together at the summit meeting this week (July 11-12) to strengthen the alliance. Corker offered an amendment adopted by the committee reaffirming U.S. policy supporting Ukraine and condemning Ru… Continue Reading
July 06, 2018
Corker Returns From Trip to Nordic and Baltic Regions
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, returned on Thursday from a week-long trip (June 28-July 5) to the Nordic and Baltic regions, where he met with U.S. and foreign officials in Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, and Finland. The trip, led by Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), focused on political and security issues important to the United States, including the effect of Russian influence in the regions. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Chris… Continue Reading
June 29, 2018
Corker Statement on Release of 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the State Department's 2018 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The annual report evaluates countries on enforcing laws against forced labor, sexual servitude and other forms of human trafficking, as well as support of victims. On Wednesday, Corker met with individuals honored as "Trafficking in Persons Report Heroes" by the State Department this year for… Continue Reading
June 26, 2018
Corker Applauds Committee Passage of Cyber Diplomacy Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded committee passage of legislation to establish U.S. international policy for cyberspace. H.R. 3776, The "Cyber Diplomacy Act of 2017", which passed the House of Representatives in January, will establish a dedicated team for cyber issues to be led by a senior State Department official, encourage the president to pursue international arrangements on cyberspace with oversight from Con… Continue Reading
June 26, 2018
Corker, Coons BUILD Act to Modernize U.S. Development Finance Passes Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised committee passage of their bipartisan legislation to promote economic growth in developing economies through U.S. business investment and provide more accountability for taxpayers at no expected cost. S.2463, The Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (BUILD Act), will establish a single, full-service, self-sustaining intern… Continue Reading
June 20, 2018
Corker Says Trump Administration Is Abusing Its Authority to Implement Taxes on the American People
WASHINGTON - In remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, challenged the Senate to assert its constitutional authority on trade policy by passing his bipartisan legislation to require congressional approval of tariffs designated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Excerpts of the senator's remarks follow. "I rise today to talk about the abuse of authority that's taking place with the administration… Continue Reading
