Ranking Member's Press
Corker Statement on Trump Administration’s Actions Against Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the Trump administration's actions against Iran. The administration announced new sanctions along with certification of Tehran's technical compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). A decision on certification is required every 90 days under provisions of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA),… Continue Reading
July 17, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on 2018 State Department Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing on draft legislation to reauthorize the State Department for fiscal year 2018. In 2016, Corker led congressional passage of the first State Department authorization bill to become law in 14 years, fulfilling one of his top priorities as chairman. This year's authorization will build on last year's progress with a focus on improving organization of the d… Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on 2017 State Department Trafficking in Persons Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a leader in efforts to end modern slavery at home and abroad, delivered the following remarks at a hearing on the State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. Last month, Corker joined Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Ivanka Trump at the launch ceremony for the report that grades countries on their progress in enforcing laws against forced labor, sexual servitude and other forms … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Corker Applauds Senate Confirmation of William Hagerty as U.S. Ambassador to Japan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Senate's confirmation of William Hagerty to serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan. The Senate voted 86 to12 in favor of the nomination. In advance of the vote, Corker delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor urging members to vote for Hagerty's confirmation. "I thank my friend and our senior senator, Lamar Alexander, for his eloquent comments about this great nominee, a… Continue Reading
July 12, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on Taylor Force Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the Taylor Force Act, legislation that would restrict U.S. economic aid to the West Bank and Gaza until the Palestinian Authority (PA) stops paying perpetrators of terrorism. The bill is named after a Vanderbilt University graduate student who was killed in a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv last year. The committee heard testimony from Elliott … Continue Reading
June 29, 2017
Corker Announces Senate Agreement on Technical Changes to Sanctions Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced that the Senate has reached agreement on technical changes to legislation he authored to hold Iran and Russia accountable. The language passed the Senate by unanimous consent and has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. "The Senate has now transmitted to the House of Representatives the technical changes requested," said Corker. "I had a good conversation w… Continue Reading
June 27, 2017
Corker Takes Part in State Department Launch of 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Ivanka Trump at the State Department's launch of the 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. Afterwards, he praised the Trump administration for its commitment to ending modern slavery and human trafficking. The annual TIP report grades countries on their progress in enforcing laws against forced labor, sexual servitude and other forms of human t… Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Corker Withholds Consent on Future Arms Sales to Gulf States Until Path to Resolve Dispute Is Established
WASHINGTON - In a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced his intention to withhold consent for U.S. arms sales to member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) until there is a path for resolving the ongoing dispute. Major arms sales are subject to preliminary approval by the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee bef… Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing to Review Congressional Authorizations for the Use of Military Force
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing to review congressional authorizations for the use of military force. "We thank our witnesses for being here and all of our senators, who I know care deeply about this issue. "I would like to thank you for being here to testify. Your insights and experience will be helpful as we begin to re-engage on this difficult topic. "It has been well over a dec… Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Corker Statement on Trump Cuba Announcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's announcement about changes in U.S. policy toward Cuba. "I appreciate the administration for re-evaluating U.S. policy toward Cuba based on whether it's achieving results," said Corker. "Following my own trip to Cuba last year, I came away with an even greater respect and admiration for the people of Cuba, who live in a cou… Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Iran and Russia Sanctions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly passed, by a vote of 98 to 2, legislation he authored to strengthen and expand sanctions on Iran and Russia. "For decades, Congress has slowly and irresponsibly ceded its authorities to the executive branch, particularly as it relates to foreign policy," said Corker. "Today marks a significant shift of power back to the Americ… Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Corker Opening Statement at Nomination Hearing for Mark Green to Serve as USAID Administrator
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of former U.S. Ambassador Mark Green to serve as administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). "Ambassador Green, thank you so much for joining us today. "This is not the first time you have to testified before this committee, and you are certainly no stranger to the halls of the Capitol. … Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Corker Credits Secretary Tillerson for Unprecedented Outreach
WASHINGTON - At a hearing to consider the State Department's fiscal year 2018 budget request, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, credited Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for unprecedented outreach to the committee. He also thanked Tillerson for setting strategic priorities for operations of the State Department while emphasizing that Congress will ultimately determine spending levels for diplomacy and foreign assistance in the next fiscal year… Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
Senators Announce Agreement on Russia Sanctions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) and Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) today announced a bipartisan agreement on legislation to strengthen and expand current U.S. sanctions on Russia. The amendment to the underlying Iran sanctions bill maintains and substantially expands sanctions against the government of Russia i… Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Corker Convenes Hearing to Examine Global Reach of ISIS
WASHINGTON - Following a series of recent terror attacks on several continents claimed by ISIS, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a hearing today examining the global reach of ISIS. Terrorism experts Dr. Lorenzo Vidino of George Washington University and Dr. Daniel Byman of the Brookings Institution testified on the next phase of U.S. efforts to counter ISIS as the coalition military campaign begins to dislod… Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
Corker Statement on Paris Climate Agreement
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. "I appreciated the opportunity to talk with President Trump and his team several times this week about his decision on the Paris climate agreement," said Corker. "The substantive requirements of the agreement are, in fact, non-binding. On the other hand, legitim… Continue Reading
May 25, 2017
Senators Applaud Committee Passage of Comprehensive Bill to Hold Iran Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today applauded Senate Foreign Relations Committee passage of their legislation to hold Iran accountable. The bipartisan legislation, now with 48 cosponsors, would expand sanctions for Iranian ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, transfers of conventional weapons to or from Iran, and human rights violations. "We can no long… Continue Reading
May 18, 2017
Corker: Hagerty Nomination One of the “Most Outstanding” Trump Appointments
WASHINGTON - At a hearing today considering the nomination of William Hagerty of Tennessee to serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following remarks in support of the nomination. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced Mr. Hagerty to members of the committee. "I think [Senator Lamar Alexander] has done an outstanding job of laying out these credentials, and I agree that you are one of the most out… Continue Reading
May 10, 2017
New York Times (Corker-Coons Op-ed): A Better Way to Help the World
New York Times The Opinion Pages | OP-ED CONTRIBUTORS A Better Way to Help the World By BOB CORKER and CHRIS COONS MAY 10, 2017 The suffering today in northern Uganda and South Sudan should move even the most hardhearted among us. As members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we often are confronted with the question of how the United States should respond to such crises. We also have the opportunity to visit countries near and far on behalf of the American people to assess the eff… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Corker Reacts to New Footage from Aftermath of Chemical Attack in Syria: “Horror”
WASHINGTON - Appearing on CNN's "The Lead" with Jake Tapper on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, responded to new video that shows victims in the immediate aftermath of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's chemical weapons attack in Syria that provoked U.S. missile strikes authorized by President Donald Trump last month. "I imagine like every American, horror. This barbaric leader has been doing this for years," said Corker afte… Continue Reading
