Reaffirming Our Close and Enduring Partnership With Israel
Last week, Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
“This ceremony on the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel reaffirms our close and enduring partnership with the only democracy in the Middle East,” said Corker. “I applaud the Trump administration for following through on the bipartisan will of Congress to relocate the U.S. embassy, which is a long overdue acknowledgement of Jerusalem as Israel’s seat of government.”
Gina Haspel Has the Experience Needed to Help Address the Emerging Threats We Face Globally
On Thursday, Senator Corker released the following statement after voting to confirm Gina Haspel as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“With more than 30 years of CIA experience, Gina Haspel is qualified to lead the agency and has the experience needed to help address the emerging threats we face globally,” said Corker. “She has risen through the ranks to serve in some of the most important posts around the world, and her service to our country is held in tremendous regard by many of our national security leaders. Gina Haspel will be a tireless advocate for the intelligence community, and I look forward to her leadership at the CIA as we work to keep our nation safe.”
Working to Update the Authorities Used to Fight Terror Abroad
On Wednesday, Senator Corker convened a hearing on S.J. Res. 59, bipartisan legislation to replace the 2001 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs) with an updated AUMF against al-Qaida, the Taliban, and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The hearing was the committee’s fourth in the past year to examine the AUMF with testimony from legal scholars, policy experts, and the Secretaries of State and Defense. Committee members also met with the State Department legal adviser to discuss S.J. Res. 59 after the bill’s introduction in April. Wednesday's hearing featured testimony from former State Department legal adviser John Bellinger and international legal counsel for Human Rights First Rita M. Siemion.
“We should take the opportunity now, after years of discussion and debate in our committee, to update the current authorities in a responsible manner,” said Corker. “Our legislation gives the administration the flexibility necessary to win this fight while strengthening the rightful and necessary role of Congress, and I believe it is the best chance we have to finally address this issue in a constructive way.”
In his testimony, Bellinger endorsed S.J. Res. 59 as a “clear improvement” over the existing 2001 AUMF that satisfies the Trump administration’s criteria for any new authorization, including no lapse in existing authorities prior to enactment of a new AUMF, no sunset date, and no geographic limitations.
“An updated AUMF is legally necessary to ensure that our military has clear statutory authorization to use force against new terrorist groups that threaten violence against the United States and to ensure that U.S. military operations, including detention, withstand legal challenges in U.S. courts,” said Bellinger. “I am pleased that S.J. Res. 59 addresses the parameters I recommended when I testified before the committee in June and the prerequisites articulated by the Secretaries of State and Defense. S.J. Res. 59 appropriately balances the need for the president and our military to have a broad and flexible congressional authorization to use force against the terrorist groups that threaten the United States today with the understandable concerns of members of Congress from both parties not to authorize an entirely open-ended use of force… S.J. Res. 59 is a clear improvement over the 2001 AUMF with respect to the concerns of both the executive branch and Congress.”
Click here or on the image above to watch the senator's opening remarks.
Welcoming Tennesseans to Washington
Last week, Senators Corker and Alexander hosted more than 70 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 met with members of the Tennessee Bankers Association and took their questions on a number of topics, including legislation recently passed by the Senate to lessen the regulatory burden on community banks, credit unions, mid-sized banks and regional banks.
Last week, Senator Corker had a good discussion with members of the Tennessee Road Builders Association. The senator agreed with them on the need to address the Highway Trust Fund, which is on track to be insolvent in 2020.
On Wednesday, Senator Corker had a wide-ranging conversation with Tennessee REALTORS® during their annual visit to Capitol Hill.
Senator Corker on Wednesday welcomed students and teachers from Robinson Middle School (Kingsport) to the Capitol.
Thanking Rotary Members for Working to Eradicate Polio and Their Interest in the Fight to End Modern Slavery
Last week, Senator Corker spoke with Rotary members at the Capitol to thank them not only for all they have done to eradicate polio around the world but also for their interest in the fight to end modern slavery.
