Kaine, fellow senators introduce new war powers resolution

The chairman and other members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., unveiled a bipartisan resolution Monday authorizing the use of military force overseas, accelerating a debate that Congress has been reluctant to have, but that's taking on new urgency after President Donald Trump's strikes on Syria. The resolution from Kaine and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., would repeal the broad authorizations Congress approved in 2001 and 2002 for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, replacing them with new authority to go after specific "non-state terrorist groups."

Senators introduce new war powers resolution

A new resolution from leaders on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to authorize the use of military force overseas is accelerating a debate that Congress has been reluctant to have, but that's taking on new urgency after President Donald Trump's strikes on Syria. The bipartisan measure from Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., would repeal the broad authorizations Congress approved in 2001 and 2002 for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, replacing them with new authority to go after specific "non-state terrorist groups."

US Senators Offer Legislation Covering Military Action Against Militants

U.S. senators announced long-awaited legislation on Monday to provide congressional authorization for campaigns against militant groups in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, as lawmakers push to take back authority over the military from the White House. A group led by Senators Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Tim Kaine, a committee Democrat, proposed an Authorization for the Use of Military Force that would authorize "all necessary and appropriate force" against al-Qaida, the Taliban, Islamic State and associated forces.

Muslim lawmakers call on senators to oppose Pompeo

Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison and Andr Carson are calling on Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders to oppose the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, citing his "history of anti-Muslim sentiment and discrimination."

Hundreds of ambassadors, diplomats urge Senate to grill Pompeo

Over 200 former ambassadors and veteran diplomats have signed a letter urging the Senate Foreign Relations committee to grill Mike Pompeo, who is President Trump's nominee to become the next Secretary of State. The letter, sent to Republican committee chairman Sen. Bob Corker and ranking Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, raises concerns that American diplomacy has been crippled and calls on the committee to question Pompeo on how he plans to fix it.

The (likely) last major act of an anti-spending Congress: a $1.3 trillion budget-busting bill

A copy of the $1.3 trillion spending bill is stacked on a table last week in the Diplomatic Room of the White House. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/The Associated Press A copy of the $1.3 trillion spending bill is stacked on a table last week in the Diplomatic Room of the White House.

Trump signs $1.3 trillion budget after threatening veto

President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending measure Friday averting a government shutdown at midnight, acting just hours after saying he was considering a veto. Trump complained that the legislation does not fully fund his plans for a border wall with Mexico and does not address some 800,000 "Dreamer" immigrants who are now protected from deportation under a program that he has moved to eliminate.

Congress OKs $1.3 trillion budget, averting another shutdown

In this March 21, 2018, photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., walks to the Senate floor for a vote with accompanying reporters, on Capitol Hill in Washington. As the Senate gets closer to another government funding deadline, Paul is protesting the pending $1.3 trillion spending bill, which he has called "budget-busting."

Congress OKs $1.3 trillion budget, averting another shutdown Source: AP

Congress gave final approval Friday to a giant $1.3 trillion spending bill that ends the budget battles for now, but only after late scuffles and conservatives objections to big outlays on Democratic priorities at a time when Republicans control the House, Senate and White House. Senate passage shortly after midnight averted a third federal shutdown this year, an outcome both parties wanted to avoid.

Republican senator expects Trump to pull out of nuclear deal

Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he expects President Donald Trump to pull out of the Iran nuclear agreement in May. "The Iran deal will be another issue that's coming up in May, and right now it doesn't feel like it's gonna be extended," Corker told CBS' "Face the Nation" in an interview broadcast on Sunday. "I think the president likely will move away from it unlessa our European counterparts really come together on a framework.

Gov. Haslam joins chorus of concerns over Trump tariffs

Gov. Bill Haslam is joining several other Tennessee officials voicing concerns over President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The Republican governor told reporters Tuesday he's concerned about additional costs to manufacturers, particularly the state's car industry.

State Senate Speaker, 18 Other Senators Endorse Blackburn

Tennessee's Senate leader and 18 other Republican state senators have endorsed U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn in her U.S. Senate bid. Blackburn's campaign announced the endorsements Wednesday as U.S. Sen. Bob Corker considers whether he wants to reverse course and face Blackburn in a Republican primary.

Key senator to stop blocking US arms sales to Persian Gulf Source: AP

The United States is poised to let Persian Gulf nations resume buying American-made lethal weapons after a key U.S. senator said he would stop blocking the sales, even though the Qatar diplomatic crisis that prompted the freeze is no closer to being resolved. Last year, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker said he was putting a "blanket hold" on sales to Gulf Cooperation Council countries, aiming to put pressure on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others to resolve their dispute.

Tennessee senators honor Memphis sanitation workers

Two Republican U.S. Senators from Tennessee have introduced a resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of the sanitation workers strike that brought civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker were joined by Democrats Ben Cardin of Maryland and Doug Jones of Alabama when they introduced the resolution on Tuesday in the Senate.