Preventing Iran From Being Able to Produce a Nuclear Weapon

Last week, Senator Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump announced his decision to end U.S. participation in the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The administration faced a May 12 deadline to renew certain sanctions relief for Iran under the JCPOA. Corker voted against the nuclear deal in 2015 and led the opposition in Congress.

“The president made clear in January that unless an agreement was reached with our European partners to address the serious flaws in the Iran nuclear deal, he would end U.S. participation in the JCPOA,” said Corker. “It is disappointing that the administration was unable to reach an agreement with our allies, specifically to remedy the ‘sunset’ provisions that allow Tehran to significantly ramp up its nuclear enrichment activity less than a decade from now. However, based on conversations I have had in recent days, it is my sense that the administration will move quickly to work toward a better deal. Moving forward, I will continue to work with the administration, my colleagues in Congress, and our foreign partners on a policy that actually meets our shared goal: preventing Iran from being able to produce a nuclear weapon.”

Thankful for the Release of American Citizens Unjustly Detained by North Korea

On Wednesday, Senator Corker released the following statement after the Trump administration announced the release of American citizens by North Korea.

“We are all very thankful for the release of these American citizens who have been unjustly detained by North Korea for far too long, and I applaud the administration for working with Congress to build significant international pressure against the Kim regime,” said Corker. “We must approach North Korea’s recent overtures and the potential for talks over denuclearization with great caution, and I believe the administration fully understands that and is preparing in the appropriate way.”

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will conduct appropriate oversight as the discussions with North Korea continue.

Discussing Foreign Policy, Economy, Senate Tenure on CNBC

During a recent appearance as a guest host on CNBC’s “Squawk Box”, Senator Corker discussed the potential for talks with North Korea, the administration’s decision to impose new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, and the economy. The senator also reflected on his Senate tenure and what he hopes to accomplish over the next eight months.

On the talks with North Korea: “This is a great opportunity for our nation, and I hope it goes well. [Mike] Pompeo is the right guy to be Secretary of State right now while that’s happening… There's no question that the administration has done a great job bringing people together to put pressure on North Korea… This is going to be a long process, but again, it's starting out on a very good note, and I’m very happy for our nation… I think, again, going in with a lot of caution and skepticism and knowing this is going to be a long process is where the administration is, where we need to be. It’s where the world needs to be.”

On resolving the trade dispute with China: “On the tariff issue, trade wars may be easy to win, but they’re also easy to lose… The big issue is the intellectual property theft that occurs through cyber but also forcing our companies when they do business there to transfer it to a Chinese partner. So, that's got to end. That's where the focus needs to be at the end of the day. I hope all these tariff regimes don't happen. I hope the negotiations are successful. It's sort of been a roving application, hasn't it? And at the end of the day…avoiding a trade war would be a good thing. And I think we will.”

Click here or on the image above to watch part one of the interview.

On serving Tennesseans in the Senate: “Let me start by saying it's been the greatest privilege of my life. I came up to the Senate on a mission. I told Tennesseans I was going to serve for two terms. I'll miss it… I spent a lifetime in business before being in the Senate... I want to do something that matters. I’ve been working since I was 13. You know, it's such a privilege to serve the public. On the other hand, can I make a difference in the business world, too? We'll see. But there's eight months left. We want to do everything we can to make a difference. We still have a lot on our plate. But, look, I think for me serving in a missional way, to be independent, to say what's on my mind, to give it all I've got was the right thing for me, and to leave after 12 years is the right thing too.”

On the 2008 financial crisis and the current status of the American economy: “When I first got [to the Senate], the financial crisis, I got a call at 10 o’clock one night. I just joined the Banking Committee. I had just been in the Senate for about a year, year and a half, and was asked to attend a meeting with [then-Secretary of Treasury Henry] Paulson and [then-Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben] Bernanke and others. We became concerned about whether people were going to be able to get cash out of ATMs, seriously. I played an outsized role during that time, may have been my best public service. So, you go from there to today. You know, business is thriving right now. We have challenges, but, look, I believe in America. I do. This is still the best place in the world to do business. We still have the best innovation. We've got, as I mentioned, challenges, but what an awesome country we have and what great business people we have.”

On what he hopes to accomplish over the next eight months: “Food aid reform. I want to make sure our slavery efforts around the world are fully implanted. Hopefully we'll be successful on an AUMF. We’ve got all kinds of minor issues that are major to the world… And the great thing, Andrew, about my job is, you know, I'm a lawmaker, and I don't like laws. I'm more of an executive kind of person. But we can make a difference on the phone or meeting with people by influencing things, and there's a lot of that we want to do over the next eight months.”

Click here or on the image above to watch part two of the interview.

Seeing the Results of Pro-Growth Tax Reform in Tennessee

Earlier this month, Senator Corker released the following statement after Governor Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and AllianceBernstein officials announced that the global asset management firm will invest more than $70 million to establish its corporate headquarters in Nashville.

“AllianceBernstein’s decision to locate its new corporate headquarters in Nashville and invest more than $70 million is great news for Tennesseans,” said Corker. “As an international leader in its industry, AllianceBernstein can establish a presence anywhere in the world but chose to bring more than 1,000 jobs to the Volunteer State, and I appreciated the opportunity to recently speak with the CEO about the company’s future in Davidson County. This announcement is a prime example of how Tennessee’s business-friendly environment, combined with the pro-growth tax reform legislation I supported on the federal level, has our state firing on all cylinders. In conversations with Commissioner Rolfe during the Senate debate this past winter, it was clear how important tax reform would be to job recruitment in Tennessee, and I am glad we are now seeing the results.”

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.

Receiving the First Annual Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy

Last week, Senator Corker received the George Washington University Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication’s first annual Walter Roberts Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce, Broadcasting Board of Governors CEO John Lansing, and University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace and Security Director Dr. Sarah Hillyer also spoke at the event about the importance of American public diplomacy.

“Through my role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I have had the opportunity to travel across the globe and see the positive impact that our nation has on the world,” said Corker. “No matter the challenges we may face here at home, I am always reminded that we live in the greatest country on Earth and that millions around the world strive to emulate us. Telling that story and serving in this capacity has been an incredible privilege, and I thank George Washington University for this honor and for promoting public diplomacy that advances American interests abroad.”

“The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication created this award for congressional leadership in public diplomacy because we wanted to highlight something that for many Americans is invisible,” said Janet Steele, director of GW's Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication. “As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Corker has been a consistent supporter of U.S. public diplomacy, recognizing the impact that U.S. leadership and diplomacy abroad can have on our own economy and national security.”