Supporting Law Enforcement and Calling for Unity

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Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, Senator Corker expressed support for law enforcement officials and called for unity after recent tragedies in Baton Rouge, St. Paul, and Dallas.

“It’s the number one responsibility that we have is to keep our citizens safe and secure,” said Corker. “But the fact is that it’s a breakdown in society when things like what happened in Dallas where there’s moral depravity of this individual, took the lives of people who were protecting folks who were demonstrating peacefully. That is something that all of us should cry out about and show support for these men and women in uniform that do what they do on a daily basis, mostly supported, but in so many cases feeling like they’re under assault by the general public.”

“When one of their officers, when someone acts out inappropriately, it hurts them, too,” added Corker. “But the fact is, mostly, these are selfless people who are protecting our citizens, causing kids to be able to go to school and people to be able to go to work. That’s what we ought to be talking about is their greatness – there are flaws that exist – but their greatness, what they do on our behalf.”

Asked about rhetoric and divisiveness, Corker expressed hope that our nation will rise to the occasion and focus on unity, not division, in the aftermath of recent tragedies.

“It is my hope, again, after this tremendous crisis that has occurred, this tragedy, that our country will focus more on unity and not division,” concluded Corker.

Corker served as mayor of Chattanooga from 2001 to 2005. During his tenure, he worked with local law enforcement officials to cut violent crime in half.

Celebrating the Life of Pat Summitt

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In remarks on the U.S. Senate floor, Senator Corker celebrated the life and achievements of legendary University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball coach Pat Summitt, who passed away at the age of 64. A transcript of Senator Corker’s remarks is available here. 

Voting to Deter Dangerous Sanctuary Cities

Senator Corker last Wednesday issued the following statement after voting to advance the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (S.3100) and the Establishing Mandatory Minimums for Illegal Reentry Act (S.1762), which is known as “Kate’s Law.” The two bills would withhold certain federal funds from cities and counties that prevent local law enforcement officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities and impose mandatory prison terms for illegal immigrants convicted of major felonies or who have been deported but repeatedly enter the country illegally, respectively. Both bills failed to receive the 60 votes necessary to advance.

“It is unacceptable that many cities are thwarting what little federal immigration enforcement is actually taking place, but I am pleased Tennessee prohibits these dangerous sanctuary city policies,” said Corker. “It is unfortunate that some in the Senate refuse to even debate these common sense measures to improve the safety of communities across our country.”

Important to Maintain U.S. Force Presence in Afghanistan to Defend National Security Interests

Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last Wednesday made the following statement after President Obama announced his decision to maintain 8,400 U.S. forces in Afghanistan through the end of the year.

“Announcing this decision prior to the NATO Summit helps set expectations about our commitment to a stable and democratic Afghanistan and continued support of our allies in this effort,” said Corker. “While I think the number of U.S. forces should not change, I am glad the president decided to maintain a larger U.S. force presence than originally intended to defend our national security interests in the region. We are reminded almost daily of the dangers terrorist safe havens create and how they can be used as bases from which to export attacks, and now more than ever, U.S. policy must be focused on confronting that threat.”

According to recent U.N. estimates, the Taliban now controls more territory in Afghanistan than at any other time since the U.S.-led invasion following the September 11, 2001, attacks.

FHFA Should Avoid Measures that Would Hinder Housing Finance Reform

Senator Corker, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, released the following statement last Thursday after authoring a bipartisan letter to the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The letter encouraged Director Mel Watt to avoid taking steps that may facilitate the release of government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out of conservatorship without comprehensive reform.

“Housing finance reform remains the last major piece of unfinished business of the financial crisis, and recapping and releasing Fannie and Freddie without reform would keep taxpayers on the hook for future bailouts,” said Corker. “It is my hope that Director Watt will avoid any measures that would hinder the ability to pass bipartisan reform legislation in the future.”

In 2013, Corker, Warner, and a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act to strengthen America’s housing finance system by replacing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a privately capitalized system that preserves the availability of desirable mortgage products to creditworthy borrowers and fully protects taxpayers from future economic downturns.

Full text of the letter follows and is available online here.