Mike Pompeo Is One of the Most Outstanding Nominees We Could Have for Secretary of State

Last week, Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined a bipartisan majority of senators in voting to confirm Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State. The Senate approved the nomination by a vote of 57 to 42. 

“I think [Mike Pompeo is] one of the most outstanding nominees we could have for this position,” said Corker. “I did not know him well when the process began. I knew he had done a very good job as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. But I have to tell you, through the process of him going through the confirmation hearings and the conversations we’ve had, the meetings we’ve had, I think he's going to be exemplary.”

“He graduated first in his class at West Point – first in his class at West Point,” added Corker. “He served our nation in uniform patrolling the Iron Curtain, and it was there he learned about diplomacy and the effect that diplomacy can have on the world... He graduated, after serving in the military, from Harvard Law School where he was editor of the law review. He then founded his own company acting as CEO and became president of another company after that. So, he served in the private sector. Four times he was elected in Kansas to the fourth district.”

“For the last 15 months, he served our nation as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and I think everyone knows how he’s run that department or that agency,” continued Corker. “I think everyone knows the culture that he has built there. The State Department right now has terrible culture. The morale is terrible. A lot of positions, as my friend the ranking member mentioned, have not been filled. But they also feel like that they haven’t had a leader in some time that has really stood behind them and raised them up to leverage our diplomatic efforts around the world. I believe this particular nominee will be excellently suited for that. He’s demonstrated that at the C.I.A. I strongly support his nomination.”

“I look forward to him serving our nation,” concluded Corker. “I don’t know of a person in the United States of America that could have more current knowledge about what is happening around the world in his current role. As we know, he already met with the North Koreans. We have known for some time that the C.I.A. has been our contact, our backchannel, with the North Koreans. He’s the perfect person to come in at this time and lead those efforts diplomatically.”

Click here or on the image above to watch the senator's remarks.

Discussing the Syria Strikes, AUMF, North Korea, Trump's State Visit for French President, and Iran Nuclear Deal

Last week, during interviews on CNN “New Day”, MSNBC “Andrea Mitchell Reports”, and Fox News “America's Newsroom”, Senator Corker discussed U.S. precision strikes in Syria, his proposal to update authorities used to fight terror abroad, U.S. relations with North Korea, remarks by President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, and the future of the Iran nuclear deal.

On U.S. relations with North Korea: “I think all of us want to make sure that the meeting is set up well and that the professionals who prepare the way are highly involved in a lot of precursor meetings. That’s one of the reasons I was glad Mike Pompeo was there. I think you know, because of what you do every day, that our back channel to North Korea has always been through the C.I.A., and so Mike was exactly the right person to begin the conversations… It seems to me that the White House is taking seriously the preparation. I hope there will be many other individuals there meeting in advance. And, look, I think all of us need to know, look, we need to approach this with skepticism and caution. Kim Jong Un has developed these weapons that he hopes will be deliverable to the United States in order to get a ticket towards dying as an old man in his bed. It’s his survival. And so I don’t think we should think that [after] a meeting, if you will, all of a sudden he’s going to give that up. It’s going to take a lot of work over, to me, probably a long period of time.”

Click here or on the image above to watch the MSNBC interview.

On U.S. precision strikes in Syria: “I thought what the president did was appropriate in that regard. I did. A surgical strike. I told him that the morning when he called before the attack… One of the lowest moments in my foreign relations career here was when [the Assad regime] crossed the [Obama administration’s] red line in 2013, in August, and we did nothing. The opposition had momentum. It was at a time when it would’ve made a huge difference. And, instead, we invited Russia in, and, of course, they’ve taken the country over. The strategy for us and all western nations has been terrible in Syria. But today it would take almost our entire military to really try to shape things on the ground. So, where I'm concerned is that we leave too soon before we’ve done the complete job with ISIS. And as you know, Turkey is really making life miserable for us and certainly for those Kurds who have given 4,000 lives to fight the fight for us, if you will, against ISIS.”

On his bipartisan proposal for an updated AUMF to fight terror abroad: “This AUMF would really be to replace the ‘01 and ‘02 AUMFs and would have nothing whatsoever [to do] regarding the fight against the Syrian regime if one were to occur. That would take a new AUMF. So, this is only relative to our fight against al Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS. Many people here have cried out for years that we need to weigh in again, that we need a new AUMF. I agreed with President Obama when he said he had all the authorities he needs. I agree with President Trump that the ‘01-‘02 [AUMFs] give them legal standing to pursue these terrorists. But as chairman of the foreign relations committee, I'm trying to, you know, adhere to the fact that there are people who want to weigh in. And so I’ve crafted something with Tim Kaine and Jeff Flake and other members of the committee… that I think strikes a middle ground that hopefully can attract Republicans and Democrats, that doesn’t constrain the president’s ability to fight terror, but does keep Congress involved when we go to new countries, when we add new groups.”

Click here or on the image above to watch the interview on CNN.

On remarks from President Trump and French President Macron at the White House: “I talked to the president before he went out to deliver his remarks… I thought both of their comments were outstanding, and I think it bodes well for the future, and I really think they acquitted themselves very well… The Europeans have been our closest allies. The French people have been the longest. And I think it speaks to unity that’s good for our country, good for people of the West, good for people who believe in democracy and human rights and strength. And I’m happy that this meeting is taking place in the manner that it is.”

On the future of the Iran nuclear deal: “I think that the issue, though, is the sunset clause. You know we’re working with the French, German, and UK leaders to deal with the ballistic testing issue and also the inspections issue. What the president wants to see happen, though, is doing away with the sunset provisions that really after year 10 cause Iran to be off and running. And I think if we can get some work done there maybe, maybe, the president decides to stay in the agreement. But it will take [Emmanuel] Macron, [Angela] Merkel, and also Prime Minister [Theresa] May to come along with creating a framework that is better than what we have now.”

Click here or on the image above to watch the Fox News interview.

Joint Operation Veterans Event in Cookeville a Huge Success

Senator Corker called “Joint Operation,” a free event to provide veterans and their families with a one-stop shop to access local resources and services, a “huge success” and thanked the veterans, organizations and agencies that participated in Cookeville in April. The event was co-hosted by Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton and Putnam County Executive Randy Porter.

“The goal of Joint Operation is to make it easier for veterans to get the help they need, and I am glad more than 200 veterans and their families took advantage of our event in Cookeville,” said Corker. “It was truly inspiring to see the local community come together to help these men and women who have served our country, and we appreciate the city mayor, county executive and all the groups involved for participating.”

An estimated 200 veterans and their families attended Joint Operation, which featured more than 50 organizations and agencies with information on a number of resources, including: VA claim assistance, vocational rehabilitation, education, employment, mental health, housing, legal assistance and much more.

The event was the third in a series of Joint Operation events organized by Corker’s office. In September, an estimated 300 veterans attended a Joint Operation event in Cleveland, and in July, an estimated 600 veterans attended a Joint Operation event in Knoxville.

Veterans who need assistance can contact Corker at any time by visiting corker.senate.gov or calling any of the senator’s six state offices.

Thankful for the Remarkable Legacy of First Lady Barbara Bush

Senator Corker released the following statement on the passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush.

“Our nation is a better place today because of the example former First Lady Barbara Bush set as a wife, mother, and public servant, and we are thankful for the remarkable legacy she leaves behind,” said Corker. “Elizabeth and I will forever cherish the memories we have of hosting her and former President George H.W. Bush at our Chattanooga home several years ago. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bush family and all those who were touched by the First Lady's life.”

Welcoming Tennesseans to Washington

Last week, Senators Corker and Alexander hosted more than 90 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 recently welcomed teachers and students of Friendship Christian School and Chattanooga Christian School to the Capitol during their spring break trip to Washington.

Senator Corker had recently met with Chattanooga Students Leading Change to discuss gun safety legislation. The senator appreciates the attention and due diligence they are giving to this important issue and is proud of their civic engagement. 

Talking With the Nashville Health Care Council

Senator Corker was in Music City recently to speak with members of the Nashville Health Care Council and take questions on a wide range of topics. Nashville's health care community is leading the way in innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Discussing the Work Being Done to Help Survivors of Human Trafficking

On Wednesday, Senator Corker had a great discussion with Kate Bosworth and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking on their important work to provide life-saving services to survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery.