Working to Make Our Schools Safer

On Wednesday, Senator Corker joined Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and 11 colleagues to introduce The School Safety & Mental Health Services Improvement Act. The legislation would allow 100,000 public schools to improve school safety by using federal dollars for school counselors, alarm systems, security cameras and crisis intervention training. 

“We should look closely at everything that can be done to keep our schools and communities safe,” said Corker. “This legislation will ensure states and local school boards have the flexibility they need to use the money they receive from the federal government in ways they deem most appropriate. I thank Senator Alexander for his leadership and am glad to join him in this effort. I also am a proud cosponsor of the Fix NICS Act and agree with President Trump that we should ban bump stocks. The American people are demanding solutions, and while these are only first steps, it is my hope that Congress will soon reach agreement on several of these items and take action to protect our children.”

There are 100,000 public schools in the United States, and state and local governments provide about 90 percent of public schools’ funding, but the federal government can and should help create an environment for communities, school boards and states to create safer schools.

The federal government could help in the following four ways if The School Safety & Mental Health Services Improvement Act is passed:

• Encourage more school counselors and other mental health professionals
• Encourage school safety infrastructure upgrades
• Encourage the development of mental health programs for crisis intervention training and mental health assessments
• Create a presidential task force to increase interagency communication

Click here for the text of the legislation and here for a one-page summary of the legislation.

If Pentagon Can Turn Entire Countries Into Craters, Why Can’t It Audit Itself?

During a hearing Wednesday on the Department of Defense’s (DOD) ongoing audit and business operations reform at the Pentagon, Senator Corker, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, asked Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer David L. Norquist why the Pentagon has never completed an audit of the department.

“DOD has the capacity to turn entire countries into craters, has all kinds of cyber capabilities,” said Corker. “How in the world could it be that the biggest, greatest fighting entity in the world cannot audit itself until 2018? What’s wrong?”

“There is, in a sense, on some in the mission focus is not as focused on the back office as you would see in a private company,” answered Norquist. “I think that there is an essential value to the taxpayer in making sure the rest of these operations go well, and part of the messaging that the secretary has made internally is to make sure folks understand this is much broader than just financial management… [Secretary of Defense James Mattis] and [Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan] have made this a top priority, and I think that’s helped to turn the ship.”

Corker expressed his appreciation for our men and women in uniform and thanked the Pentagon for beginning an audit.

“Well again, we thank you and others for what you’re doing,” concluded Corker. “I’m happy that in 2018 we’re finally going to have an audit. That’s good for taxpayers. I cherish the men and women in uniform like [Senator Tim Kaine’s] son and others who serve. I am distressed that for all these years we know there’s been massive amounts of wasted money because you can’t even audit, and I’m glad that you’re on a path to do something good about it.”

DOD’s first ever agency-wide audit is currently underway. If completed, it will be the first since enactment of a federal law more than 27 years ago requiring the department to submit annual audited financial statements to the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Click here or on the image above to watch the discussion.

Fearful Tariffs Could Have Far-Reaching Unintended Consequences

On Thursday, Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the administration announced it would impose new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

“While I share the president’s concerns regarding Chinese steel overcapacity, I am disappointed by the administration’s approach to this problem and ultimate decision to use a rarely used national security provision to implement new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports,” said Corker. “A better way to level the playing field for American companies would be to rally our friends and allies to advance a robust, targeted effort to ensure that only those responsible for excess global capacity pay a price. Unfortunately, I fear this announcement could have far-reaching unintended consequences that will put at risk the hard fought economic gains U.S. businesses have seen over the past year. Hopefully, the president will come to realize this possibility and further narrow this announced policy.”

Caution Is Critical in U.S.-North Korea Discussions

On Thursday, Senator Corker released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump accepted an invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined.

“While U.S. policy toward North Korea has failed for decades, it is clear that a series of sanctions recently put in place by Congress and the administration are having a real impact,” said Corker. “As the administration begins to work through the important details of such a meeting, we must continue to apply maximum pressure to the regime in Pyongyang. Skepticism and caution are critical as these discussions continue.”

Welcoming Tennesseans to Washington

Last week, Senators Corker and Alexander hosted more than 130 Tennesseans at “Tennessee Tuesday,” a regular breakfast held on Capitol Hill every week the Senate is in session for visitors from the Volunteer State. For more information, click here.

Senator Corker last week welcomed the Ladies of Lee to the Capitol. The Lee University vocal ensemble was visiting Washington during their spring break. 

On Thursday, Senator Corker welcomed Nashville Songwriters Association International to his office to discuss the Music Modernization Act. 

Discussing the Longstanding Friendship Between the U.S. and Israel

Last week, Senator Corker and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the longstanding friendship our countries share and the significant role our nations play in countering Iranian aggression. 

Senator Corker also met last week with American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) members from Tennessee to discuss the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship.