Honoring the Life of Fred Thompson
Senator Corker released the following statement on the passing of Fred Thompson.
“Fred Thompson served the people of Tennessee and America with great honor and distinction,” said Corker. “From the courtroom to Capitol Hill to Hollywood, his larger than life personality was infectious and had a way of making all of those around him strive to be better. Through his many different roles in public life, Fred never forgot where he came from, and our state and country miss his common sense approach to public service. I greatly appreciated his friendship and am saddened to learn of his passing. Elizabeth and I extend our thoughts and prayers to his wife, Jeri, the Thompson family and all those who were impacted by Fred’s life.”
Paul Ryan is a True Leader
Senator Corker on Thursday congratulated Paul D. Ryan after he was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“My friend Paul Ryan is a true leader who has shown he understands the depth of the fiscal challenges facing our nation,” said Corker. “It is my hope that as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul will use his position to unite Congress around long-term solutions that will put our nation on a path to fiscal solvency so we can ensure our country’s greatness for generations to come. I am proud to congratulate him and wish him all the best as he assumes his new position. ”
Opposing the Budget Deal
Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement announcing his opposition to the agreement reached by the White House and congressional leaders to increase spending by $80 billion over two years and raise the debt ceiling until March 15, 2017.
“The agreement reached by the White House and congressional leaders is yet another example of what the American people hate about Washington,” said Corker. “Not only does this irresponsible deal break the commitment Congress and the administration made to the American people when passing the Budget Control Act – which has helped reduce discretionary spending for four consecutive years – it also continues the misleading practice of using budget gimmicks and one time revenue grabs.”
“The American people sent us to Washington to solve problems, and I am disappointed that Congress and this administration have failed to pass a responsible fiscal plan for our country,” added Corker. “I have offered several proposals to put America on a path to fiscal solvency, and I stand ready to work with any of my colleagues who are serious about making our country stronger.”
Pressing the State Department for Answers
Click here or on the image above to view video.
During the fourth in a series of hearings on the U.S. role and strategy in the Middle East, Senator Corker pressed the U.S. Department of State to pursue unilateral sanctions against Iran if the United Nation’s Security Council cannot agree to hold Tehran accountable for violating the U.N. ban on ballistic missile testing earlier this month. The committee heard testimony from Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson and U.S. Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL Gen. John Allen.
“Knowing that…there won’t be penalties put against Iran because Russia will block them, we want to know unilaterally what the United States is going to do because we know functionally nothing is going to happen at the U.N.,” said Corker, who wrote a letter earlier this month to Secretary of State John Kerry seeking clarity on the U.S. response to the Iranian violation.
For archived footage and full testimony, click here.
Protecting Tennesseans, Their Businesses, and Our National Interests
Senator Corker released the following statement on the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (S.754), which passed the Senate last Tuesday by a vote of 74 to 21.
“There is no question that our nation faces a growing number of cyber threats,” said Corker. “Cyber attacks target Tennesseans, their businesses, and our national interests, and it is critical that we? enable the private sector and government to work together to protect Americans from these attacks while also protecting privacy and civil liberties. This voluntary information-sharing bill is an important first step, and I am pleased the Senate overwhelmingly supported this bipartisan legislation.”
Tennesseans Visit Washington
Senators Corker and Alexander hosted Tennesseans at last week’s “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.
