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Update from Senator Bob Corker
January 27, 2013

Corker Named Ranking Member of Foreign Relations

Senator Corker has been named the lead Republican or “ranking member” of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the 113th Congress.

As ranking member, he will work with the chairman to represent the interests of his Republican colleagues and help carry out the legislative and oversight responsibilities of the committe.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Foreign Relations Committee on behalf of the minority, and as we enter this new Congress, it is my goal to see the committee play a more relevant role in international relations and be a place where we look at our national interests in the context of the longer view," said Corker. "I also look forward to working with the chairman and my colleagues on the committee to carefully review programs and practices at USAID and the State Department, which hasn't been done in a comprehensive way in decades. This should include a top-to-bottom review of all foreign assistance programs and State Department authorities to ensure that they are being conducted in line with American strategic national interests."

For more information on the committee, visit: http://foreign.senate.gov.


January 23, 2013 - With Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) (R) and Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-TN) (L) looking on, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies during a committee hearing on the September attacks on U.S. diplomatic sites in Benghazi, Libya on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Jason Reed.)

Jackson Sun (Editorial): Corker will serve us well in new Senate role
"We are happy to see U.S. Sen. Bob Corker take over the position of ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This is a good thing for Corker, a good thing for residents of Tennessee and a good thing for all citizens of the United States... We think Corker has the right qualities and attitude to represent his state and his country well in this new role. We look forward to seeing the results of his work."

Reacting to Secretary Clinton's Testimony

After hearing from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the Benghazi terrorist attack, on Thursday, Corker spoke with Fox News Channel's Jon Scott about her testimony and whether he's satisfied with the steps the administration has taken in the aftermath.

No Budget, No Pay

Senator Corker is an original cosponsor of "No Budget, No Pay," bipartisan Senate legislation that would suspend pay for members of Congress if they fail to pass a budget and all appropriations bills by the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1.

"Failing to pass a budget and accomplish this most basic responsibility of government is a total failure of leadership and represents everything the American people hate about Washington," said Corker. "If Congress can't perform its most basic responsibility, I worry how we'll ever demonstrate the courage needed to make the tough decisions necessary to put our country on a path to fiscal solvency."

Since taking office in 2007, Senator Corker's salary has gone directly to the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga which distributes it to various charities.

SEC and CFPB Nominations

On Thursday, Senator Corker commented on President Obama's nominations for chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

"I want to make sure both nominees are committed to working with Congress on technical and policy improvements to Dodd-Frank. The SEC needs to address the potential taxpayer liability from money market mutual funds," said Corker. "Regarding the CFPB, while I respect Richard Cordray as a substantive person who has shown thoughtfulness in writing regulation up to now, I still have reservations about the CFPB's structure, namely the lack of a board to help ensure sound policy and accountability, and I look forward to discussing with him how to address those concerns."

Unconstitutional Obama Appointments

On Friday, Senator Corker applauded a federal appeals court's ruling that President Barack Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate's advice and consent authority in making so-called "recess" appointments last January.

"This ruling is a huge victory for all who believe in balance of power and the rule of law," said Corker.

In September, Corker and 41 of his Senate colleagues filed an amicus brief in this case (Noel Canning v. NLRB), a challenge to the constitutionality of President Obama's so-called "recess" appointments to the National Labor Relations Board in January.

In the News

On Fox News Sunday today, Senator Corker called a federal appeals court's ruling declaring several Obama administration appointments unconstitutional "a huge victory for anybody who believes in balance of power and the Constitution." He also defended Republican efforts to put Social Security and Medicare on a sustainable path and expressed frustration over the president's lack of emphasis on the need to solve the nation's fiscal challenges during his second inaugural address.