Ranking Member's Press
Corker Statement on Brexit Vote
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement about the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. "A free people should choose their own way, and we respect the British decision to leave the European Union," said Corker. "Today's referendum will not change our special relationship with the United Kingdom. That close partnership will endure, and we will continue to work together to stren… Continue Reading
June 23, 2016
Global Gateways Trade Capacity Act Passes Senate Foreign Relations Committee
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 applauded committee passage of the Global Gateways Trade Capacity Act (S.2201), their bipartisan legislation to improve the effectiveness of U.S. assistance for expanded trade in developing countries. "We need to reform U.S. foreign assistance to promote economic growth that can improve living standards and make societies more self-sufficient a… Continue Reading
June 17, 2016
Corker Urges Obama to Make Decision on U.S. Security Presence in Afghanistan Before NATO Summit
WASHINGTON - In a letter to President Barack Obama yesterday, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the president to make a decision about the continued presence of U.S. security assistance forces in Afghanistan before the upcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw. U.S. Army Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, finalized and submitted a report that is expected to include recommendations for the president to postpone th… Continue Reading
June 15, 2016
Corker Questions U.S. Approach to Libya
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today questioned the Obama administration's approach to Libya. The committee heard testimony from U.S. Special Envoy for Libya Jonathan Winer about U.S. support for the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli as it attempts to establish legitimate authority over the entire country. "Five years after the U.S. decision to intervene in Libya, which I think most of u… Continue Reading
June 14, 2016
Corker, Cardin: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Meets with Dalai Lama
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statements Tuesday after the committee met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile. "We were honored to welcome the Dalai Lama and Dr. Lobsang Sangay today for a discussion about issues important to the U.S. and the people of Tibet," said Senator Corker. "At… Continue Reading
June 07, 2016
Corker: Resignation of UN Whistleblower ‘Appears to Be a Damning Indictment’ of Failed Zero-Tolerance Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after top United Nations (U.N.) whistleblower Anders Kompass resigned in protest over the U.N.'s failure to hold senior officials accountable for allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by peacekeeping forces and efforts to silence those who revealed them. "This resignation appears to be a damning indictment of the leadership at the United Nations… Continue Reading
June 07, 2016
Corker: Series of Destabilizing Russian Actions to Blame for Deteriorating Relationship with the U.S.
WASHINGTON - At a hearing on the U.S. approach to Russia, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cited a series of destabilizing Russian actions that are to blame for the deterioration of relations with the U.S. The committee heard testimony from Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Michael Carpenter, David Satter of the Hudson Institute, and Vladimir Kara-Murza of the Open Russia Movement. "Russi… Continue Reading
June 07, 2016
Corker Stresses Importance of U.S. Leadership, Reiterates Opposition to Iran Deal
WASHINGTON - In a wide-ranging foreign policy discussion at the American Jewish Committee's annual Global Forum in Washington yesterday, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a leading opponent of the administration's nuclear deal with Iran, stressed the importance of U.S. global leadership and reiterated his opposition to the nuclear deal. Highlights of Corker's remarks are below. For more information about the event click here. Video footage… Continue Reading
May 24, 2016
Corker Urges More Pragmatic Approach to Strengthen U.S.-India Relationship
WASHINGTON - In advance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June 8 address to a joint meeting of Congress, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for a more pragmatic approach to U.S.-India relations that will facilitate progress on outstanding differences while acknowledging overall cooperation between the two countries remains at "an all-time high". "We're not as brutally honest about our relationship with India as we should be, and … Continue Reading
May 24, 2016
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "U.S.-India Relations: Balancing Progress and Managing Expectations"
Hearing: U.S.-India Relations: Balancing Progress and Managing Expectations Tuesday, May 24, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman The nature and scope of the U.S.-India relationship has changed significantly over the past couple of decades. Indeed, political, economic and strategic cooperation between the United States and India is at an all-time high. And there is considerable potential to further strengthen many aspects of the relationship. For example, I am encouraged … Continue Reading
May 21, 2016
Corker Statement on Apparent Death of Taliban Leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the apparent death of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour. "If verified, the death of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour would be an important victory in the fight against terror and welcome news to our military personnel in Afghanistan and the Afghan government," said Corker. "I am thankful for the work our military and intelligence com… Continue Reading
May 17, 2016
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on the "War in Syria: Next Steps to Mitigate the Crisis"
Hearing: War in Syria: Next Steps to Mitigate the Crisis Tuesday, May 17, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement Five years into the war, I think we can draw a few general conclusions. Without leverage on the Assad regime, we have little ability to influence a diplomatic solution to the war. The longer this war goes on, the more complicated it gets and the more people suffer. Today, we are at a meeting in the latest round of peace talks in Vienna. I talked to … Continue Reading
May 17, 2016
Corker: Obama Administration Vacuum in Syria Filled by Russia and Iran
WASHINGTON - As Secretary of State John Kerry met with officials from other world powers in Vienna to restart the peace process in Syria, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, charged the Obama administration with leaving a vacuum in Syria that Russia and Iran exploited by intervening on behalf of the Syrian government. He also expressed skepticism over the ability of the U.S. to influence the outcome of the conflict without military leverage over… Continue Reading
May 12, 2016
Corker Convenes Hearing to Examine America’s Role in the World
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, convened a hearing today to examine America's role in the world in 2016 and beyond. The committee heard testimony from former Secretary of State James Baker and former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon. "I don't think this hearing could come at a better time when the nation's beginning more fully to focus on our place in the world," said Corker. "The Senate Foreign Relations Committee…… Continue Reading
May 10, 2016
Corker: U.S. Freedom of Navigation Exercise in South China Sea an Important Step
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today said the latest U.S. freedom of navigation exercise in the South China Sea is an "important step" that should be part of routine patrols in nearby international waters to challenge unlawful territorial claims by China. "Today's passage of a U.S. Navy destroyer near Fiery Cross Reef is an important step in U.S. efforts to defend freedom of navigation in the South China Sea," said Corker. "Th… Continue Reading
May 10, 2016
Senator Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "Terrorism and Instability in Sub-Saharan Africa"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: Terrorism and Instability in Sub-Saharan Africa Tuesday, May 10, 2016 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ChairmanOpening Statement As much of the world concentrates on the ISIS threat and instability in the Middle East, the committee takes this opportunity to consider efforts by the United States and other partners to counter extremism in the sub-Saharan Africa area. Long-term development has been the norm across much of Africa, in… Continue Reading
April 29, 2016
Corker, Cardin: State Department Authorization Bill Passes Senate for First Time in 14 Years
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 applauded Senate passage of the first State Department authorization bill in 14 years. The 2016 U.S. Department of State authorization bill, which was approved unanimously by the committee in June of 2015, initiates various reforms to diplomacy programs and core operations of the State Department. The bill also includes embassy security provisio… Continue Reading
April 28, 2016
Corker, Cardin: State Department Authorization Bill for 2017 Passes Committee
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 announced committee passage of the bipartisan U.S. Department of State Authorization Act of 2017. The legislation requires U.S. leadership at the United Nations (U.N.) to end sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers, promotes efficiencies in personnel and management at the State Department, and restructures the consular fee system for issui… Continue Reading
April 27, 2016
Corker: China’s Provocative Territorial Claims Threaten U.S. Strategic Interests in Asia-Pacific
WASHINGTON - At a hearing to assess the state of U.S. relations with China, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cited China's increasingly aggressive land reclamation activity in the South and East China Seas as a strategic threat to U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region. He also warned of other provocative Chinese actions that undermine opportunities for improving ties with the United States. "Whether it is China's militarization of the So… Continue Reading
April 21, 2016
Corker Talks to Syrian Opposition Leader as Geneva Peace Talks Appear to Collapse
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke with Dr. Riyad Hijab, a senior representative of the Syrian opposition, as the peace talks in Geneva appear to collapse. "Having just spoken with Dr. Riyad Hijab about the current situation in Syria, I understand why the moderate opposition is withdrawing from the Geneva talks," said Corker. "The Assad regime continues to target civilians, block humanitarian access, and refuse the rel… Continue Reading
