United States Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee appeared on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business on March 17 to discuss U.S.-Japan cooperation, election integrity legislation, and the nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve.
Hagerty said Japan plays a significant role in regional security and highlighted ongoing military collaboration between the United States and Japan. “Japan can play an incredible role. We [the United States] have the most extensive military operations in the world. The United States has more military based in Japan than any place else. We’re sending a Marine expeditionary force from Japan into the region right now, 2,500 Marines coming from that region ourselves. We’re very accustomed to working with the Japanese, and I think we can work very clearly and effectively with them in the Strait [of Hormuz] if the Japanese decide to step up and move forward. I know they’re considering this carefully. The fact is, Prime Minister Taiichi is coming to visit the United States this week. She’ll be meeting with President Trump. I’m looking forward to seeing her as well. There are going to be great economic announcements made. I heard you with Secretary Burgum– what a terrific job. Fifty-seven billion dollars worth of transactions in terms of energy dominance and partnership in that region. This is a vision that President Trump and I have shared since I was ambassador back in 2017. It’s materializing now in a beautiful way. If you think about the partnership as well, from a national defense standpoint, the Prime Minister has been very clear. She’s stepping up their defense expenditures. We are close allies, and I think we have even greater opportunities to collaborate and cooperate, whether it’s in Iran or whether it’s in the region as we extend our joint work together.”
He also addressed strengthening alliances across Asia: “You see the South Koreans also stepping up and engaging with us more. The trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and the United States has never been stronger. I love seeing this. I’m sure the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] does not like this at all, but this makes a very strong statement in terms of the collaboration that we have. The technical cooperation from a national security and defense standpoint, as well as the economic cooperation—all of this is strengthening ties throughout the region. It’s good for America and good for our allies. And I think the CCP is quite disturbed.”
On domestic policy issues such as voter identification laws under consideration by Congress through legislation known as the SAVE Act, Hagerty said: “Why should there be an issue when you have over 80 percent of the American population wants to see this? More than 90 percent of Republicans, over 80 percent of independents, and over 70 percent of Democrats want to see this… These are issues that the American public wants addressed… Let’s hear the Democrats try to defend why it is we shouldn’t have voter ID… What we’re trying to do is clean up a situation that’s been a grave concern to Americans.” He added his willingness for extended debate: “I’m certainly willing to do that… Let’s get on the floor… Let’s see how embarrassed the Democrats are as they try to articulate an indefensible position.”
Discussing Kevin Warsh’s nomination for Federal Reserve chairmanship, Hagerty said: “We’re ready to have confirmation hearings for Kevin… Kevin is going to get the Fed back to its core mission… getting us out of worrying about climate change… That will be over under Kevin’s watch… My goal is to get him in on time.”
Hagerty represents Tennessee in the U.S Senate as a Republican according to his official website. His office provides constituent services including casework assistance and federal agency support according to his official website, with district offices located across regions such as Chattanooga, Knoxville, Tri-Cities along with Washington D.C., according to his official website. He holds positions on several Senate committees including Banking; Foreign Relations; Appropriations; Rules & Administration for Congress’ current session according to his official website.
Looking ahead at both international partnerships and domestic legislative debates discussed during his appearance, Hagerty indicated continued engagement on these topics both within Congress and through constituent outreach.