Ranking Member's Press
Corker Statement on Turkish Offensive in Afrin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement about the Turkish offensive in Afrin, Syria. "Turkey's capture of Afrin puts our hard-fought gains against ISIS at risk by drawing our local partners away from that fight," said Corker. "The administration should compel Turkey to stop its offensive against our partners and clearly state that no further interference in the campaign against ISIS will be tolera… Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Corker Statement on Meeting with Secretary of State-Designate Mike Pompeo
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after an hour-long meeting with Mike Pompeo, President Donald J. Trump's nominee to serve as secretary of state. "Director Pompeo and I had a very good meeting today," said Corker. "I was very impressed with him and his knowledge base and appreciated the opportunity to understand his world view. As I shared with him, our committee will move through the nomin… Continue Reading
March 18, 2018
Corker Talks Pompeo Nomination, North Korea, Iran Nuclear Deal on Face the Nation
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today appeared on CBS' Face the Nation. The senator sat down with moderator Margaret Brennan earlier this week to discuss the nomination of Mike Pompeo to serve as secretary of state, President Donald J. Trump's decision to accept an invitation to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the Iran nuclear deal, and other news of the day. Excerpts follow. On the nomination of Mike Pompeo … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
Corker, Coons Introduce Food for Peace Modernization Act of 2018
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize U.S. global food assistance programs as part of the 2018 farm bill. The Food for Peace Modernization Act of 2018 (FPMA) proposes greater efficiencies in the Food for Peace program so the U.S. can free up as much as $275 million to provide life-saving food to nearly 9 million more people in a shorter time period. U.S… Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
Corker Discusses Pompeo Nomination, Deterring Russian Aggression on Fox News
WASHINGTON - During an appearance on Fox News "America's Newsroom", U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today discussed President Donald J. Trump's nomination of Mike Pompeo to serve as secretary of state and the U.S. and United Kingdom deterring Russian aggression. Excerpts follow. On the nomination of Mike Pompeo: "He's very smart. He obviously knows a lot about the world being head of the CIA, and I look forward to sitting down and talking … Continue Reading
March 13, 2018
Corker Praises Senate Passage of Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate foreign Relations Committee, today praised unanimous Senate passage of legislation to reform the Peace Corps. The Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 would 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. The legislation is named in honor of Nick Castle, of Brentwood, Calif., who lost h… Continue Reading
March 13, 2018
Corker Statement at Hearing on Threats to U.S. Interests from Fragile States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement at a hearing to examine threats to U.S. interests from fragile states. The committee heard testimony from former British Prime Minister David Cameron, chairman of the Commission on State Fragility, Growth, and Development. "We thank our distinguished witness for being here today, and we'll introduce you more formally in just a moment. But we thank you and apprec… Continue Reading
March 13, 2018
Corker Statement on Nomination of Mike Pompeo
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump's intention to nominate Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State. "I had a very good conversation with Director Pompeo this morning and look forward to meeting with him soon," said Corker. "As I shared with the president, the committee will consider his nomination as expeditiously as possible." "I also want to thank Rex Tillers… Continue Reading
March 08, 2018
Corker Statement on North Korea
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump accepted an invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined. "While U.S. policy toward North Korea has failed for decades, it is clear that a series of sanctions recently put in place by Congress and the administration are having a real impact," said Corker. "As the administration begins to wor… Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
ICYMI: Corker on Taylor Force Act: ‘I Think It Will Become Law Soon’
WASHINGTON - Over the weekend, Fox News reported on the Taylor Force Act and U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, meeting last week with the family and classmates of Taylor Force, a Vanderbilt University graduate student who was killed in a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv in 2016. The legislation, championed by Corker and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), would restrict U.S. economic aid to the West Bank and Gaza until the Palestinian Authority stops… Continue Reading
February 27, 2018
Corker, Coons Introduce Bill to Modernize U.S. Approach to Development Finance
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to promote sustainable growth in developing economies through U.S. business investment and provide more accountability for taxpayers at no expected cost. The Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (S.2463, the BUILD Act) will establish a single, full-service, self-sustaining international developmen… Continue Reading
February 23, 2018
Corker Statement on U.S. Sanctions Against North Korea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement after the Trump administration announced new sanctions against North Korea. "The administration is taking further action to isolate North Korea and prevent the rogue Kim regime from evading tough international sanctions," said Corker. "Congress and the administration will continue working together to confront the North Korean threat in concert with our allies an… Continue Reading
February 07, 2018
Senators Praise Committee Passage of Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today praised Senate Foreign Relations Committee passage of legislation to reform the Peace Corps. The Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 would 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. The legislation is named in honor of N… Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
Corker Statement at Hearing on North American Economic Relations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement at a hearing on the regional and strategic significance of the economic relationship between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The committee heard testimony from former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, former Mexican Secretary of Commerce and Industry Jaime Serra Puche, and former U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne. "Today, we will discuss the regional an… Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
Corker Statement on Implementation of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a lead author of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), today released the following statement on implementation of the legislation. "As a lead author of this important legislation, I am particularly invested in its implementation," said Corker. "Based on the classified briefing our committee staff received yesterday afternoon from the State Department, I am enco… Continue Reading
January 12, 2018
Corker Statement on Trump Administration Iran Announcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the administration's announcement on the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "I think all Americans share the goal of stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," said Corker. "Those who opposed implementation of the JCPOA, including myself and the president, opposed it because we believed it was a ba… Continue Reading
January 11, 2018
Corker Statement at Hearing on U.S. Policy in Syria Post ISIS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement at a hearing on U.S. policy in Syria after the collapse of ISIS. The committee heard testimony from Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield."We thank our distinguished witness for being with us today. We regret the Defense Department was unable to send a witness."This is the committee's second hearing of this Congress on the… Continue Reading
January 10, 2018
Senators Introduce Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today introduced legislation to reform the Peace Corps. The Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 would 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. The legislation is named in honor of Nick Castle, of Brentwood, Calif., who lost … Continue Reading
January 05, 2018
Corker Applauds Trump Administration Decision to Suspend Security Assistance to Pakistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Trump administration for suspending security assistance to Pakistan, citing Islamabad's continued harboring of the Haqqani network that threatens American forces and U.S. objectives in Afghanistan. Corker has previously blocked foreign military financing for Pakistan until the country takes sufficient action against the Haqqanis. "While Pakistan is an important country in the … Continue Reading
January 04, 2018
Corker, Cardin Introduce Resolution on Protests in Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution expressing support for the rights of the Iranian people to have their voices heard and condemning the Iranian regime for its long history of human rights abuses. The resolution encourages the U.S. to work to convene emergency sessions at the United Nations to condemn the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated … Continue Reading
