History of John Cornyn in Timeline

John Cornyn III is an American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Texas since 2002. A member of the Republican Party, Cornyn previously served as a judge before entering the Senate. He has been a prominent figure in national politics, holding his Senate seat for multiple terms.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2003: Cornyn receives 'A' grade from NRA

In 2003, John Cornyn received an "A" grade from the NRA Political Victory Fund.

2004: Cornyn's 'box turtle' marriage analogy

In 2004, during the debate on the Federal Marriage Amendment, John Cornyn prepared a speech for The Heritage Foundation where he compared same-sex marriage to marrying a box turtle. Although he removed the reference in the actual speech, it was reported by The Washington Post and The Daily Show.

2005: Cornyn's environmental votes in 2005

In 2005, John Cornyn voted against including oil and gas smokestacks in mercury regulations, against factoring global warming into federal project planning, and against banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He also voted against removing oil and gas exploration subsidies.

2008: Cornyn votes for Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

In 2008, John Cornyn voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

2008: Cornyn supports and later ends TARP

In 2008, John Cornyn voted for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), also known as the Wall Street bailout, and later voted to end the program.

2009: Cornyn votes against the Affordable Care Act

In 2009, John Cornyn voted against the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).

2009: Cornyn votes against American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

In 2009, John Cornyn voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

December 2010: Cornyn votes against New START treaty

In December 2010, John Cornyn was one of 26 senators who voted against the ratification of New START, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia.

2010: Cornyn votes against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

In 2010, John Cornyn voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.

2011: Cornyn opposes extending payroll tax holiday

In 2011, John Cornyn opposed extending the payroll tax holiday.

2013: Cornyn comments on Cruz's efforts to defund the Affordable Care Act

In 2013, John Cornyn commented that Senator Ted Cruz's efforts to defund the Affordable Care Act by threatening to default on the U.S. government's debt obligations were "unachievable".

2013: Cornyn comments on Pentagon budget amid sequester

In 2013, John Cornyn stated that the Pentagon would actually see its budget increase despite the sequester.

January 2014: Cornyn introduces Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

In January 2014, John Cornyn introduced the "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act", aiming to provide interstate reciprocity for concealed weapons permits.

March 2015: Cornyn files resolution welcoming Netanyahu to Congress

In March 2015, as Senate Majority Whip, John Cornyn filed a resolution welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress, a resolution co-sponsored only by Republicans.

2016: Cornyn expresses concerns about Trump's presidential bid

In 2016, John Cornyn voiced concerns about Donald Trump's presidential bid, describing Trump as an "albatross around the down-ballot races" and someone who would "divide the party".

2017: Cornyn helps pass legislation on gun purchases

In 2017, John Cornyn assisted Democrats in passing legislation to aid federal agencies in alerting, reporting, and recording gun purchases by creating a universal cross-agency database.

2017: Cornyn plays a leading role in attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act

In 2017, John Cornyn played a leading role in the attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

2017: House of Representatives passes bill with concealed carry reciprocity language

In late 2017 the House of Representatives passed a bill with concealed carry reciprocity language attached to gun control measures from the Senate's Fix NICS Act of 2017 bill.

January 2018: Cornyn signs letter to Trump on NAFTA

In January 2018, John Cornyn was among 36 Republican senators who signed a letter to Donald Trump requesting the preservation of the North American Free Trade Agreement by modernizing it for the 21st-century economy. He also urged Trump to restart trade talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

April 2018: Cornyn expresses concern over North Korean sanctions evasion

In April 2018, John Cornyn was one of eight Republican senators to sign a letter expressing "deep concern" over a United Nations report exposing "North Korean sanctions evasion involving Russia and China", calling for a swift response.

August 2018: Cornyn urges sanctions against Chinese officials over Uyghur internment camps

In August 2018, John Cornyn urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials responsible for Xinjiang internment camps targeting the Uyghur Muslim minority.

December 2018: Cornyn defends U.S. support for Saudi Arabia amid Khashoggi assassination

In December 2018, John Cornyn stated that the U.S. should stand with Saudi Arabia despite the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, citing Saudi Arabia's role in fighting a proxy war against Iran in Yemen.

2018: Cornyn continues to support Concealed Carry Reciprocity

As of 2018, John Cornyn continued to support Concealed Carry Reciprocity, with the House passing a bill attaching this language to gun control measures.

February 24, 2019: Cornyn quotes Mussolini in tweet

On February 24, 2019, John Cornyn posted a tweet quoting Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini to mock dictatorship, centralized power, and democratic socialism.

May 2019: Cornyn says combating climate change is important but condemns the Green New Deal

In May 2019, John Cornyn stated the importance of the United States taking measures to combat climate change but criticized the Green New Deal proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

September 2019: Cornyn votes to ratify Trump's border wall maneuver

In September 2019, John Cornyn voted to ratify Donald Trump's decision to divert resources from the Pentagon to construct a wall on the Mexico border, opposing congressional efforts to block the action.

2019: Cornyn comments on Alabama abortion law

In 2019, John Cornyn stated that the Alabama law prohibiting abortions, even in cases of rape or incest, was an "Alabama state issue".

April 2020: Cornyn questions climate scientists' models

In April 2020, John Cornyn stated that climate scientists' models of the effects of climate change do not use the "scientific method".

June 2020: Cornyn defends Trump on Russia-Taliban bounties

In June 2020, amid reports that Russia had paid the Taliban bounties to kill American soldiers, John Cornyn defended Donald Trump's assertion that he had not been briefed on the subject, suggesting the president couldn't remember everything he's briefed on.

October 2020: Cornyn opposes Trump's border wall maneuver

In late October 2020, John Cornyn stated his opposition to Donald Trump's maneuver to build a wall on the Mexico border by siphoning resources from the Pentagon, despite having previously voted to ratify it. He claimed he never supported the maneuver.

2020: Cornyn distances himself from Trump before 2020 election

In 2020, as the election neared, John Cornyn began to distance himself from Donald Trump, stating he praised Trump publicly but disagreed with him privately.

February 2021: Cornyn supports DREAM Act solution

In February 2021, John Cornyn supported a Texas business coalition advocating a federal DREAM Act solution for illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

May 28, 2021: Cornyn votes against January 6 commission

On May 28, 2021, John Cornyn voted against the creation of an independent commission to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

July 2021: Cornyn supports legislation to expand SIV program for Afghan allies

In July 2021, John Cornyn supported legislation to expand and expedite the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for Afghan interpreters and other allies who assisted U.S. forces.

June 25, 2022: Cornyn comments on Dobbs v. Jackson decision

On June 25, 2022, after Barack Obama criticized the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, John Cornyn tweeted, suggesting the court should also revisit Plessy v. Ferguson, leading to accusations of racism.

2022: Cornyn receives 'A+' grade from NRA

In 2022, John Cornyn received an "A+" grade from the NRA Political Victory Fund.

2022: Cornyn advocates for military aid to Ukraine

In 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, John Cornyn advocated for sending military aid to Ukraine and introduced the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022.

2022: Cornyn supports bipartisan gun control agreement after Robb Elementary shooting

In 2022, following the Robb Elementary School shooting, John Cornyn initially opposed further background check laws but later became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control.

May 2023: Cornyn suggests Republicans should nominate a more electable candidate

In May 2023, John Cornyn suggested that Republicans should nominate a candidate who can actually win, arguing that Donald Trump's "time has passed him by" and that Trump does not appeal to voters beyond his base.

2024: Cornyn clashes with Ken Paxton over Ukraine aid

In 2024, John Cornyn clashed with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over his vote for a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine. Paxton criticized him, and Cornyn responded by suggesting Paxton focus on his legal issues.