Senator Bob Corker on Dec. 3 voted for the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 (H.R. 3762), legislation that would dismantle the president’s health care law and build a bridge to a better health care system for hardworking families across the country.
“The president’s health care law was sold to Tennesseans as a way to bring down health care costs and provide certainty to individuals and companies across the nation, yet it has done just the opposite,” said Corker.
He continued, “Year after year, we have seen double-digit increases in the cost of plans, small businesses grappling with unreasonable mandates, and health insurance providers threatening to leave the marketplace or shutting down completely due to upside down profit expectations. The simple fact is that this law has not delivered the results that were promised.
“Americans want an open health care marketplace that provides far greater choice and affordable plans that meet their actual needs so companies can openly and effectively compete for their business.”
The highway bill
Corker also released the following statement after voting against the conference report on the Senate’s and House of Representatives’ highway bills.
“I am extremely disappointed that both Republicans and Democrats have passed this gimmick-laden piece of legislation that weakens our nation and in no way pays for our country’s important infrastructure in real time,” said Corker. “Yet again, Congress has pulled a fast one on the American people by painting a rosy picture so that they can feel good now, but in reality Washington is throwing future generations under the bus by failing to put in place a long-term funding mechanism for the Highway Trust Fund.”
According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), if the legislation is enacted, the Highway Trust Fund will run a nearly $100 billion shortfall between 2021 and 2025.
“This legislation does not solve the real problem. It simply kicks the can down the road,” added Corker. “Both parties should be embarrassed that they have allowed the Highway Trust Fund to become one of the largest budgeting failures in the federal government. In coming years, Congress still will be faced with the challenge of putting in place a long-term funding mechanism for these important programs.”
Oversight for Iran deal
Corker opposed President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran because, rather than end Iran’s nuclear program, the agreement paves the path for the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to industrialize its nuclear program with a U.S. stamp of approval. Unfortunately, despite bipartisan opposition, the president went forward with advancing his nuclear agreement with Iran.
On Dec. 3, Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to President Obama detailing the committee’s plans for rigorous oversight of the Iran nuclear deal.
The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which Corker authored and passed through the Senate 98 to 1, provides Congress significant leverage to hold Iran and the Obama administration accountable.
“As the JCPOA with Iran moves toward Implementation Day, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will initiate a rigorous program to ensure effective congressional monitoring and oversight of this agreement as well as its regional and nonproliferation implications,” the senators wrote.
“We hope that your administration will remain committed to engaging Congress going forward. In anticipation of this program, we request that you make available administration witnesses to testify in public hearings and provide classified briefings,” they added.
The proposed committee oversight includes an initial series of hearings with administration officials beginning in December that will be timed with the release of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s report on possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program, the first semi-annual report from the administration pursuant to existing law under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, and “Implementation Day” when Iran has complied with the terms of the nuclear agreement. The senators also requested regular interagency briefings consistent with reporting requirements of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015.
The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act also requires the administration to certify every 90 days that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear agreement. A failure to provide the certification or a material breach by Iran would make available expedited procedures for consideration of legislation in Congress to reimpose sanctions.
An additional semi-annual report from the administration also will provide detailed information regarding Iran’s nuclear-related and other destabilizing activities, including support for terrorism.
