Bob Corker

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I work very close with my friend from Kentucky. There were some awfully strong things that were just said. I don't think they were directed necessarily at me. I think there has been a little bit of an evolution here. I know that the reason we are having to go through this process of filibustering a treaty is the fact that the Senator from Kentucky wanted a vote on an unrelated amendment relative to surveillance here in our own country. When he was unable to get that agreement, he decided to filibuster a treaty. So that is what is happening here. I am interested to hear this evolution of why we are having this debate. Let me just say, having dealt with this issue firsthand--and I know he knows this--this filibuster is about something totally unrelated to the amendment that is being offered right now. I know the Senator from Kentucky, my friend, knows that I have offered authorizations for the use of force. I did so against Syria, and I am glad to have a debate on authorizations for the use of force, and I think we should. I know the administration is developing a strategy around ISIS right now, and when they complete that, it is my hope that we will, in fact, update the 2001 AUMF. I think it has been stated by past administrations that the authorization they are utilizing as it relates to ISIS is legal. I believe them to be correct. But I will say that I agree we ought to have another debate on the issue of authorizing the fight against ISIS, and I hope we will do so as soon as this administration completes the process of laying out what their plan is. Then we can debate that and then hopefully update that authorization. I don't know what that has to do with a treaty with Montenegro. There has been a lot that has been said, and I don't know how it necessarily ties together. But the fact is, when you enter into an article 5 treaty--which has, by the way, passed out of our committee on two occasions--you are, in fact, saying under article 5 that a war against one is a war against all and that we will come to their defense. So the amendment itself, if we were to vote on it, would basically negate that. I think the Senator from Kentucky could have had this vote, but the fact is that 98 Senators wanted to have this vote--have wanted to have this vote for months, I might add--and we have had to come to this point of filing cloture. So, with that, with good will toward the Senator, with good will toward the other 97 Senators here who would like to pass this posthaste, I object.

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, before I suggest the absence of a quorum, I would like to say that the Constitution calls for treaties to be enacted by this body, which is what we are doing today. Everybody understands what NATO is and has understood it since the late 1940s. This is the kind of treaty that we would like for other people to be a member of, and today Montenegro, which has gone through the full process of accession, hopefully will be passed through this body. This is the last country, by the way--every other country that is a member of NATO has voted to cause Montenegro to join NATO. I know my friend from Maryland, the ranking member, Senator Cardin, has just arrived. I know he has a few words to say. He is a strong supporter of Montenegro's accession, as is the vast majority of this Senate. I will let the comments from the Senator from Kentucky lie. We are doing our constitutional duty by passing a treaty that we all understood. It has been debated fully in committee. It has been passed out twice. I am glad we are doing so. The fact is, this has been blocked by one Senator who wanted to vote on something totally unrelated to this and was using this as leverage. That is what is occurring here, nothing else. We are finally, through cloture, having a vote on something that the majority of people in the Senate want to pass.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call be waived.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, the Committee on Foreign Relations has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 115th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Senator Cardin, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Record.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Madam President, I am pleased to rise in support of the nomination of Rex Tillerson to serve as our next Secretary of State. The proceedings in the Foreign Relations Committee for his nomination were fair, exhaustive, and in the best traditions of our committee and the Senate. Mr. Tillerson completed all of his required paperwork expeditiously, having met or exceeded the pace set by former Secretary Hillary Clinton after she was nominated in 2008. He testified in a public hearing for more than 8 hours and afterward responded to over 1,000 additional questions for the record from committee members. Opinions and votes today on Mr. Tillerson may differ, but there is no question that the committee and the Senate have fulfilled their constitutional responsibility in carefully reviewing his nomination. As we proceed in ensuring that the new administration has the leaders it needs to implement our Nation's foreign policy going forward, I have great confidence that Rex Tillerson will serve the United States well. In both my private meetings with him and in the hours of public testimony he offered before the Foreign Relations Committee, it has become clear that he will be an effective leader at the State Department. Mr. Tillerson has led an exemplary and honorable life. He has been at the same company for over 40 years. As an Eagle Scout, he served as the national president of the Boy Scouts of America. Furthermore, the nonpartisan Director of the Office of Government Ethics recently stated that Mr. Tillerson is making a clean break from Exxon and has even gone so far as to say that Tillerson's ethics agreement serves as a sterling model for what we would like to see with other nominees. Having managed one of the world's largest companies by revenue, with over 75,000 employees, there is no doubt in my mind that Rex Tillerson is well qualified to lead the State Department. I encourage all of my colleagues to support his confirmation and look forward to his service as our next Secretary of State. I yield the floor.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I am going to speak only for a few minutes so that we can have the vote occur at 5:30, on time. I wanted to say that I am pleased to be here to support Governor Nikki Haley as our Ambassador to the United Nations. The United Nations is at a crossroads and really needs someone who is very reform-minded for the United States to lead our efforts in that regard. That not only would benefit U.S. interests, but candidly it would benefit the world. She is someone who has shown that ability as Governor of South Carolina. She also has a clarity about her as it relates to representing U.S. interests. People on both sides of the aisle in our committee were able to recognize that her instincts relative to where the United States needs to be on certain issues--I think most of us understand that the United States leading on issues of human rights, leading on issues of conscience, that the American values we all hold dear and want to promote around the world are things that she has the ability to communicate and cares deeply about, and I think people were very impressed. The United Nations has multiple issues relative to peacekeeping that have not been addressed. Sexual exportation and abuse by peacekeepers have been rampant, and things have not been done in that regard to curtail that activity or at least not in the ways that they should, and I know she is very passionate about that issue. There is no question that she is not the most adept person at foreign policy. She would be the first person to say that. She has spent most of her time out of the country solely on economic development trips. I think where the United Nations is today is at a place where we need a really driven person who cares about our own U.S. national interests but also has the ability to break through the clutter and reform. She has worked with legislators to bring people together, to make that happen in her own State. She has had an exemplary record in that regard. My guess is that is really the first effort that needs to take place. Over time, through the relationships she develops there, the travel that will take place, I am absolutely certain--especially with the drive that she has--she will develop some of the other capacity that I know she will want to utilize there at the United Nations. I am here to recommend her. I look forward to supporting her. Our committee did so in a voice vote with only two dissents. In spite of the fact that I am disappointed that we are handling our Secretary of State in a manner that is not in keeping with bipartisan precedent, and in spite of the fact that we are not going to handle that in a way that we should and could today, through a vote on that, I am appreciative of the minority leader allowing this vote to take place today, and I am glad she is going to be confirmed overwhelmingly as our United Nations Ambassador. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, we have had a number of discussions about how to go about repealing and replacing the health care bill that is now law in our country. We have had a number of very thoughtful discussions on our side. I know a date has been put in this reconciliation of January 27, and we realize that is not a real date. That is a placeholder. That is the earliest they can come back. In talking with leadership and working through this, we understand that everyone here understands the importance of doing it right, giving Tom Price, the new HHS person, the time to weigh in and help us make this work in the appropriate way. For that reason, we plan to withdraw this amendment and place our faith in the fact that we are going to do this in a manner that works well for the American people. I yield to Senator Portman.

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, if there is any time, I would like to also say there have been a lot of concerns about the fiscal nature of this-- making sure that we do it in a manner that does not waste taxpayer resources. There has been another concern--obviously, making sure that these health care plans stay in place during transition. Both discussions have been very thoughtful, very helpful, and I think that everyone understands what is at stake in this process, and hopefully we will move through it in a way that will reflect the fact that we want this to work for the American people. I yield the floor.

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I withdraw the amendment.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Arlington, VA. Hon. Bob Corker, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 16-31, concerning the Department of the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense articles and services estimated to cost $3.51 billion. After this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale. Sincerely, James Worm, Acting Deputy Director, (For J. W. Rixey, Vice Admiral, USN, Director). Enclosures. Transmittal No. 16-31 Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $2.60 billion. Other $ .91 billion. Total $3.51 billion. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under consideration for Purchase: Maior Defense Equipment (MDE): Forty-eight (48) CH-47F Chinook Cargo Helicopters. One hundred twelve (112) T55-GA-714A Engines (ninety-six (96) installed, sixteen (16) spares). One hundred sixteen (116) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) (ninety-six (96) installed, twenty (20) spares). Fifty-eight (58) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (forty-eight (48) installed, ten (10) spares). Forty-eight (48) M240H 7.62mm Machine Guns with spare parts. Non-MDE: This request also includes the following Non-MDE: M134D Mini-Guns or equivalent type guns with support equipment and training; Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AN/

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, for the Committee on Foreign Relations I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I rise today to express my deepest sympathies and offer steadfast support to the countless Tennesseans who have experienced tragedy in the recent days. It has been a rough few weeks in our great State. Last week, my hometown of Chattanooga lost six young children in a tragic schoolbus crash. Today, countless East Tennesseans face a long road ahead after severe storms and tornadoes ripped through southeast Tennessee, leaving tremendous damage and taking the lives of two individuals in Polk County. Tomorrow morning, I will be in another area of our State that is dealing with unimaginable tragedy. As you have likely seen by now, the damage caused by wildfires in Sevier County, the place where my wife was raised, is heartbreaking. While officials continue to assess the full extent of the damage, we know that many have suffered tremendous loss. As of this morning, officials confirmed that they are still addressing the remnants of smoldering wildfires. More than 400 firefighters are supporting the effort. The exact number of structures affected remains unknown, but local officials are estimating 700 impacted structures and more than 17,000 acres burned. More than 200 individuals remain in shelters, and just moments ago, we learned that 10 fatalities have been confirmed. Sevier County is a special place, surrounded by some of the country's most beautiful God-given amenities. Millions of people from around the world visit each year and have built memories in this treasured community. But as the mayor of Gatlinburg noted earlier today, ``it's not the attractions or the restaurants that make this place special, it's the people'' who live there. So many wonderful families call Sevier County home--tough, proud people whose roots in the area span generations. Those who know the area and these people are not at all surprised by the community response. The Nation has watched and read countless stories of selfless individuals--many who lost everything themselves-- helping others. We have watched the mayor and city manager of Gatlinburg, both of whom lost their own homes, provide steadfast strength and grace. We have watched the Sevier County mayor close each press conference with a simple request: ``Pray for us.'' The coming days, weeks, and months will not be easy. The recovery will take time. We are committed to doing everything that we all can do to help you rebuild. The support does not end when the cameras leave. Governor Haslam, Senator Alexander, Congressman Roe, and I are ready to support requests for assistance for the recovery efforts. People throughout Tennessee and across the Nation will be back to visit very soon. Of course, as has been requested, we will continue to pray. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. CORKER

Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.