TIME Magazine announced that it named Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to the 2015 TIME 100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
“I am grateful that Tennesseans have given me the tremendous privilege of serving them in the United States Senate, and I am deeply humbled by this honor,” said Sen. Corker. “I wake up every day trying to find ways to move our country ahead, and for as long as Tennesseans afford me this opportunity, I will remain focused on solving the big domestic and foreign policy issues facing our nation.”
The list, now in its 12th year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals. The full list and related tributes will appear in the April 27 issue of TIME, are available online here today, and will be available on newsstands and tablets on Friday.
The tribute below to Sen. Corker was written by Senator Lamar Alexander, Tennessee’s senior senator, former governor and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Bob Corker
By Lamar Alexander
April 16, 2015
The pragmatist of congress
Curious about tunnels smuggling supplies from Egypt to Gaza, U.S. Senator Bob Corker hailed a jeep, rode to the border, inspected the tunnels and that afternoon showed photographs to a startled Benjamin Netanyahu. In Chattanooga, Corker’s penchant for aggressive fact finding caused this former construction executive and mayor to help 10,000 families find decent homes.
Now it has thrust the junior Senator from Tennessee into bipartisan deals on debt, financial regulation, immigration and Iran. In 2014 he voted with the majority of Republican Senators 85% of the time, but he is a conservative who prizes results over speeches. He is unafraid to challenge President Obama and unafraid to work with him.
His tough-minded pragmatism and grasp of economics have restored prestige to the Foreign Relations Committee and are reminiscent of George H.W. Bush’s skilled team. If he is not President himself, Corker is an obvious choice for Secretary of State or Treasury.