Ranking Member's Press
Corker: UN Security Council North Korea Resolution Can Be Catalyst for Tougher Global Stance Against Rogue Regime
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today said the U.N. Security Council's strict enforcement of a new resolution targeting North Korea can be a catalyst for a tougher global stand against the growing nuclear and ballistic missile threat from the Kim regime. Last week, President Obama signed a bipartisan Senate bill into law that will expand and tighten enforcement of sanctions against North Korea. "If strictly enforced, thi… Continue Reading
February 25, 2016
Corker on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Laments Outcome of Syria Civil War “Totally in Russia’s Hands Now”
WASHINGTON - In an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the outcome of Syria's civil war "is totally in Russia's hands now" after years of missed opportunities by the Obama administration to support the free Syrian opposition, which has allowed Moscow to intervene militarily on behalf of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. A provisional ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia is set to take ef… Continue Reading
February 25, 2016
Corker: No Substitute for U.S. Leadership to End Modern Day Slavery
WASHINGTON - Coinciding with 'END IT' week to help shine a light on slavery and human trafficking, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday convened a hearing featuring leading advocates and survivors who urged the U.S. to pursue a greater leadership role in ending modern day slavery. Today marks the END It Movement's third annual "Shine A Light On Slavery Day" when supporters from around the U.S. and around the world will raise awareness a… Continue Reading
February 23, 2016
Corker: Russia Using Syrian Refugees as “Weapon of War” to Stoke Instability in Europe
WASHINGTON - During a hearing today with Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused Russia of contributing to the flow of refugees from the Syrian conflict in order to stoke instability in Europe. "I think [Europeans] are concerned about what Russia is doing to destabilize the area using refugees as a weapon of war," he said regarding Russia's military support for the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Corker a… Continue Reading
February 18, 2016
Corker Statement on President Signing North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 into Law
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement after President Obama signed the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 into law. "We can no longer afford to allow North Korea's rogue regime to enhance its nuclear and missile capabilities without tougher consequences," said Corker. "This legislation provides a robust set of tools for the U.S. to deter North Korea's illicit behavior in a m… Continue Reading
February 08, 2016
Senators Applaud Electrify Africa Bill Becoming Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded President Obama's signing of the Electrify Africa Act of 2015 (S.2152) into law. The bipartisan legislation, which was unanimously approved by the Senate last year and passed by the House of Representatives last week, will leverage private sector resources through loan guarantees to help 50 million Africans acce… Continue Reading
February 07, 2016
Corker CNN Op-ed: U.S. Needs More Proactive Approach to Counter North Korean Nuclear Threat
WASHINGTON - Following North Korea's latest illicit missile launch, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, contributed an op-ed for CNN.com on the need for a more proactive U.S. approach to deal with the growing North Korean nuclear threat. The Senate is expected to debate and pass the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (Gardner-Menendez) this week. "The North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, which we expec… Continue Reading
February 06, 2016
Corker Condemns North Korean Missile Launch
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today condemned North Korea's illicit missile launch and called for a more proactive U.S. approach to deal with the growing North Korean nuclear threat. The Senate is expected to debate and pass the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (Gardner-Menendez) this week. "I strongly condemn this latest provocation which demonstrates once again the need for a more proactive U.S. appr… Continue Reading
February 03, 2016
Corker, Cardin Introduce Resolution Urging Robust International Assistance for Syrian Humanitarian Relief
WASHINGTON - Ahead of Thursday's international donor conference on the crisis in Syria, U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a Senate resolution urging the nations of the world to join the United States, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Germany and Norway in fulfilling their United Nations pledges for financial assistance to support humanitarian relief resulting from the conflict in Syria. "Th… Continue Reading
February 03, 2016
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "Strains on the European Union: Implications for American Foreign Policy"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Hearing: Strains on the European Union: Implications for American Foreign Policy February 3, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ChairmanOpening Statement We've been paying a lot of attention to what's happening in Europe. And I was at the World Economic Forum, I guess a week and a half ago, and they're paying a lot of attention to us. I think the presidential race here and some of the comments that have been made have caused people in … Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Corker: No New Lending to Zimbabwe without Meaningful Reform
WASHINGTON - In a letter on Thursday to Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the Obama administration to use U.S. influence to prevent new international lending to Zimbabwe absent meaningful progress by the government to restore the rule of law and improve human rights. Recent reports indicate the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and African Development Bank may clear Zimbabwe of its $1.9 bil… Continue Reading
January 28, 2016
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes Gardner-Menendez North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), today announced Senate Foreign Relations Committee passage of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016. As part of a more effective U.S. policy to achieve the peaceful disarmament of North Korea and advance human rights, the bipartisan Gardner-Menendez bill will expand and tighten enforcement of sanctions for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile de… Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
Corker Statement on Diplomatic Negotiations over Conflict in Syria
WASHINGTON - After speaking on the phone with a senior representative of the Syrian opposition, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement about diplomatic negotiations over the conflict in Syria. "Today I heard from Dr. Riyad Hijab, a senior representative of the Syrian opposition," said Corker. "As we know, the Assad regime- along with their Russian backers- continues to besiege cities, target civilians from the air and … Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
Corker: Bipartisan Concern over Perception of Middle East Realignment after Iran Deal Implementation
WASHINGTON - At the first committee hearing since implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reiterated his opposition to the Iran deal and warned of the perception of realignment in the Middle East. Corker also said he feared the decline, or eventual collapse, of the international coalition assembled to hold Iran accountable as investment in Iran grows. "I think all of us have been very concerned about how… Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
Corker Statement on Obama Administration Decision to Approve Targeting of ISIS in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - Following reports that the White House approved a request from the U.S. Department of Defense to authorize the targeting of ISIS militants in Afghanistan, U.S. Senator Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the followed statement. "I'm glad the administration is using the legal authority it already has to combat ISIS in Afghanistan," said Corker. "It has been a mistake to target al Qaeda but not ISIS in Afghanistan-a mistake that has permitted … Continue Reading
January 16, 2016
Corker Statement on the Release of American Prisoners and Implementation of the Iran Nuclear Agreement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement in response to the release of Americans that were held in custody in Iran and the implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement. "While I am delighted that our citizens who have been unjustly held in Iran will be released back to the United States and reunited with their families, we need to understand more fully all the details and implications of this arrange… Continue Reading
January 06, 2016
Corker Statement on North Korean Hydrogen Bomb Test
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding reports of a hydrogen bomb test by North Korea. "Reports of a North Korean nuclear weapon test late yesterday are troubling enough in isolation, but if confirmed, this news is especially disturbing when put in context with events of the last several years," said Corker. "If found to be yet another test, yesterday's event serves as a sober reminder that ig… Continue Reading
January 01, 2016
Corker: “Deep Concern” with Obama Administration Possibly Backing Away from Sanctioning Iran
CHATTANOOGA - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement today regarding reports of the Obama administration backing away from plans earlier this week to impose sanctions on a number of Iranians and entities involved in Iran's ballistic missile program. Corker has been pressing the administration to hold Iran accountable for its repeated illicit ballistic missile tests that violate existing U.N. Security Council (UNSC) Re… Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Senate Unanimously Passes Electrify Africa Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised Senate passage of the Electrify Africa Act of 2015 (S.2152), legislation that will leverage private sector resources through loan guarantees to help 50 million Africans access electricity for the first-time and add 20,000 megawatts of electricity to the grid by 2020. Providing access to electricity will stimulate … Continue Reading
December 17, 2015
Corker Says Failure to Impose Consequences for Iran’s Ballistic Missile Violations Sets Dangerous Precedent for Enforcement of Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON - At the first oversight hearing on expected implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that the Obama administration's failure to impose consequences for Iran's violation of an international ban on ballistic missile testing sets a dangerous precedent for enforcement of the nuclear deal. Today's hearing featured testimony from Obama administration officials with the U.S. Department of Stat… Continue Reading
