Update from Senator Bob Corker

Statement

Honoring Memorial Day

Senator Corker made the following statement in honor of Memorial Day:

"My job gives me the opportunity to meet with members of our military serving all over the world. It is humbling and often emotionally overwhelming to be in their presence. On Memorial Day we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, and we can honor them by working to make the country they fought and died for even stronger. Tennessee has a long tradition of sending brave men and women into harm's way. To the Tennesseans missing loved ones, I hope you will feel an especially strong outpouring of support this Memorial Day."

IRS Targeting Conservative Groups Reprehensible

At a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday, Senator Corker questioned Treasury Secretary Jack Lew about the Internal Revenue Service inappropriately targeting conservative political groups.

"When you have the president of the United States, and the vice president, and other leading folks in our administration using the type of language to describe the folks that were targeted -- demonizing, villainizing -- I think… you would expect that bureaucrats at lower levels are going to act in a way that they acted," said Corker. "It is reprehensible what happened."

Addressing the Situation in Syria

On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved legislation by a vote of 15 to 3 to plan for a post-Assad Syria.

"Given the risks to the U.S. and the region from an extremist takeover in Syria, I thank my colleagues for advancing our bill that seeks a better outcome by establishing a more focused U.S. strategy without new spending or authorizing American military force. This effort has always been about more than the arming and training of vetted opposition groups; it is about shifting the momentum on the ground toward moderate forces while helping them build consensus for a new government post Assad," said Corker. "In order for the necessary political transition to take place, moderate forces must gain the upper hand, and Assad must doubt his chances of survival. This bill moves that effort down the road in a serious, measured way, so I hope it is something my congressional colleagues and the president will embrace. "

Encouraging Global Investment in Tennessee

Senator Corker introduced legislation this week to help create jobs and improve American competitiveness by attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. The Global Investment in American Jobs Act (S.1023) directs the Department of Commerce to initiate the first-ever interagency assessment for Congress focused on making the U.S. more effective in competing for investment from top companies around the world. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

"If we want the U.S. to be the very best place in the world to do business, we need to take a close look at what we're doing right, what we're doing wrong and how we can eliminate barriers that diminish investment in the U.S.," said Corker. "Volkswagen, Nissan and Electrolux are a few examples of companies that have made significant, long-term investments in Tennessee, creating good-paying jobs for Tennesseans and fueling economic development. This bill will help give us the information we need so we can continue to attract more of these kinds of investments throughout the country."

According to information provided by the Organization for International Investment, in Tennessee, foreign-based companies contribute 112,500 jobs to the state's economy and make up five percent of the state's private-sector workforce.

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