Ranking Member's Press
Corker: Lack of Effective Deterrent to China’s Provocative Maritime Expansion Threatens U.S. Credibility in Asia-Pacific
WASHINGTON - At a hearing today on provocative Chinese territorial expansion in disputed islands of the East and South China Seas, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised concerns about the U.S. losing credibility in the Asia-Pacific by the Obama administration providing no effective deterrent to China's actions. "I see no price whatsoever that China is paying for their activities in the South and East China Seas. None…We're paying t… Continue Reading
May 12, 2015
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on Renewal of U.S.-China Civil Nuclear Agreement
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: "The Civil Nuclear Agreement With China: Balancing The Potential Risks and Rewards"May 12, 2015 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement Today we begin the exercise of our statutory responsibility - a responsibility Congress requested - to review agreements between the United States and foreign nations related to cooperation on civil nuclear programs. We must examine the political, economic and security aspec… Continue Reading
May 07, 2015
Corker’s Bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act Passes Senate 98 to 1
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly passed his bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. The bill, which will now be considered by the House of Representatives, requires congressional review of any final nuclear agreement with Iran before the president can waive or suspend sanctions imposed by Congress. "Today's overwhelming, bipartisan vote sends a strong… Continue Reading
April 28, 2015
Corker: Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 Now Has Veto-Proof Majority Support in Senate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced the bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 now has 67 Senate sponsors, which is enough to override a presidential veto. The legislation, which is now being debated on the Senate floor, requires the president to submit any final nuclear deal with Iran to Congress before being able to waive or suspend congressional sanctions. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted… Continue Reading
April 28, 2015
Corker Amendment Requires Persian Text of Any Final Nuclear Agreement with Iran to Be Submitted to Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced an amendment to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 that would require the Persian text of any final deal with Iran to be submitted to Congress. The amendment is intended to clear up any disputes between the United States and Iran over interpretations of a final agreement. After the recent framework agreement was announced, significant disagreements emerged between Wash… Continue Reading
April 28, 2015
Corker, Cardin Introduce Resolution on the Significance of US-Japan Relationship in Advance of Prime Minister Abe’s Address to Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the committee's ranking member, yesterday introduced a bipartisan resolution (S.Res.152) on the significance of the United States' relationship with Japan as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives in Washington this week for a state visit where he will address a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. "I have had the pleasure of meeting with Prime Minister Abe, and I appreciat… Continue Reading
April 23, 2015
Corker Opens Senate Debate on Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today opened Senate debate of his bipartisan legislation, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, that would require the president to submit any final nuclear deal with Iran to Congress before being able to waive or suspend congressional sanctions. Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously to approve the legislation, which now has 62 cosponsors, including Corker. I… Continue Reading
April 22, 2015
Corker Holds Hearing on State Department Reauthorization
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today presided over a hearing on reauthorization of the U.S. Department of State. The committee heard testimony from Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom. "One of our top priorities in this committee is to restore regular committee consideration of a State Department authorization bill - reviving a process that will help the department become more efficient … Continue Reading
April 22, 2015
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "State Department Reauthorization: Ensuring Effective U.S. Diplomacy Within A Responsible Budget"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: State Department Reauthorization: Ensuring Effective U.S. Diplomacy Within A Responsible Budget Wednesday, April 22, 2015 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), ChairmanOpening Statement Thank you Deputy Secretary Higginbottom for your continued service to our country and for your testimony today. State Department operations have not been reauthorized since 2003, which means the department's authorities are old and its budget has not b… Continue Reading
April 19, 2015
Corker on CNN’s “State of the Union”: Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act Restricts President Obama’s “Free Hand” to Implement a Final Nuclear Agreement with Iran
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said enactment of his congressional review legislation would restrict President Obama's "free hand" to implement a final nuclear agreement with Iran, if one is reached. Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously to approve the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 that requires the president to submit any final dea… Continue Reading
April 17, 2015
Corker Statement on Introduction of Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding the introduction of bipartisan trade promotion authority legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Yesterday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) announced The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 20… Continue Reading
April 15, 2015
Corker Holds Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Food Aid Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today presided over a hearing on the current status of U.S. international food assistance efforts and advocated for proposed reforms to the Food for Peace program that would provide more food faster to those in need without additional taxpayer resources. "Increasing flexibility in the Food for Peace program would provide up to $440 million in savings, allowing the U.S. to reach as many as 12 mill… Continue Reading
April 15, 2015
Corker Opening Statement at Hearing on "American Food Aid: Why Reform Matters"
United States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsHearing: American Food Aid: Why Reform MattersWednesday, April 15, 2015 U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chairman Opening Statement I think people know that since 1954, U.S. international food aid programs have helped feed over three billion people and promote food security in over 150 countries. Most U.S. food aid is provided through Food for Peace, which is currently funded, on average at $1.6 billion annually Over the past five years,… Continue Reading
April 14, 2015
Corker: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Unanimously Approves Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised unanimous committee passage of the bipartisan Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, which requires congressional review of any final agreement with Iran. "Despite opposition from the White House all along, I am proud of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's unanimous support of this bill that will ensure the American people - through their elected representatives - will have… Continue Reading
April 05, 2015
Corker Says Discrepancies Over Political Framework Agreement with Iran Highlight Need for Congressional Review of Any Final Deal
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Today in an appearance on Fox News Sunday, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said discrepancies between Iran and the United States over the political framework agreement that was reached last week to limit Tehran's nuclear program highlight the need for congressional review of any final deal. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on April 14 on Senator Corker's bipartisan legislation, the Iran Nuclear Agreement … Continue Reading
April 02, 2015
Corker Statement on Iran Nuclear Framework
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding today's announcement that P5-plus-one nations have reached a political framework agreement with Iran. "A nuclear-armed Iran would lead to a less safe and less secure world, which is why the stakes are so high in the pursuit of a strong agreement that is fully enforceable, verifiable and is in our national security interests," said Sen. Bob Corker… Continue Reading
March 29, 2015
Corker Urges Obama Administration and Negotiators Not to “Rush Headlong” into a Bad Deal with Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the Obama administration and negotiators for other P5-plus-one nations not to "rush headlong" into a nuclear deal with Iran just to meet a March 31 target date for a political framework agreement. Negotiations will continue until June 30, which is the final deadline for a comprehensive agreement. "I am concerned our negotiators may be cutting corners and overlooking significant issues as th… Continue Reading
March 25, 2015
Corker Statement on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s Address to a Joint Meeting of Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement in advance of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's address later today to a joint meeting of Congress. "I join my colleagues in welcoming Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to the U.S. Capitol for a joint meeting of Congress that comes at a pivotal time for his country and its relationship with the United States," said Corker. "We have a vested interest in the ability of Afghan… Continue Reading
March 24, 2015
Corker Statement on President Obama’s Announcement on U.S. Security Presence in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's announcement on plans for the U.S. security presence in Afghanistan. "I appreciate President Obama's announcement today that the United States will fulfill President Ghani's request for maintaining a stronger U.S. counter-terror and security presence in Afghanistan," said Corker. "This is the right decision in the effort to imp… Continue Reading
March 22, 2015
Corker: “Building, Strong Bipartisan Consensus” that Congress Should Review Any Final Nuclear Deal with Iran
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation" today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said there is "a building, strong bipartisan consensus" for his legislation to require congressional review of any final nuclear agreement with Iran. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the bill on April 14. "[W]e have a building, strong bipartisan consensus that at the end of the day, before anything is implemented, … Continue Reading
