1. Bills & Resolutions
2. On the Record
*Brought to you in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Round-Up was born!
(MORE IRAN SANCTIONS) HR 4821: Introduced 1/18 by Roskam (R-IL) and 19 all-GOP cosponsors, the “Iran Freedom Policy and Sanctions Act,“ aka, “To impose sanctions against entities owned or controlled by the Armed Forces of Iran, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means. Roskam’s press release, entitled “Roskam introduces bill to increase pressure on Iran, fix flaws of nuclear deal,” is here. Roskam’s summary of the bill is here. Cheney (R-WY) statement on cosponsoring is here.
(HIZBALLAH/IRAN/ARGENTINA) H. Res. 704: Introduced 1/18 by Deutch (D-FL) and Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the courageous work and life of Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, and calling for a swift and transparent investigation into his tragic death in Buenos Aires on January 18, 2015.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This is the House companion version to S. Res. 354, introduced 12/7/17 by Rubio (R-FL) and Menendez (D-NJ). Ros-Lehtinen-Deutch press release is here.
And special mention (nothing at all to do with Middle East, but winning the award for the cuddliest bills introduced so far this year, and maybe in history):
Crist (D-FL) and Fitzpatrick (R-PA) 1/4/18: Crist, Fitzpatrick Introduce Pair Of Puppy Protection Bills [the Puppy Protection Act [HR 4693] and the Welfare of Our Friends (WOOF!) Act [HR 4691] – to provide better protection for man’s best friend by improving standards for federally licensed commercial dog breeders.
Kaine (D-VA) 1/18: Statement On Trump Administration Announcement To Keep U.S. Troops In Syria Beyond The Counter ISIS Mission
McClintock (R-CA) 1/18: Entered into the record the 1/9 op-ed in the WSJ by the MEK’s Maryam Rajavi, “the elected President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, in support of the Iranian quest for freedom”
Frankel (D-FL) 1/17: Statement in support of H. Res. 676, “a bipartisan resolution that expresses support for the citizens of Iran”
Roskam (R-IL) 1/17: Roskam supports increasing sanctions on human rights abusers, strengthening nuclear deal
Gottheimer (D-NJ) 1/12: “Gottheimer, Gallagher, Engel Condemn U.N. General Assembly Vote Targeting U.S. and Israel” [announcing H. Res. 684, introduced 1/11/18]
Hoyer (D-MD) 1/12: Hoyer Statement on Iran (…“I am open to a follow-on agreement to enforce and strengthen the deal more thoroughly, but that would need to be done in the context of a broader strategy and in concert with our allies. It also must not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action…”)
Meadows (R-NC) 1/12: Statement on President Trump’s Iran Deal Announcement
Price (D-NC) 1/12: Statement on President Trump Waiving Iran Sanctions
Cassidy (R-LA) 1/12: New Orleans City Council’s BDS Measure is Rooted in Anti-Semitism, Hatred of Israel
Cassidy (R-LA) 1/12: Cassidy Praises Guatemala for Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
Leahy (D-VT) 1/12: Statement On Hector Timerman
Harris (R-MD) 1/12: Statement on Repairing the Iran Deal
Engel (D-NY) 1/12: Statement on Iran Policy Announcement (“…the Trump Administration’s policy announced today sets impossible standards that would ultimately isolate the United States rather than isolating the regime in Tehran. That scenario would allow Iran to rush headlong toward a bomb while harming American credibility and leadership on the global stage.”)
Cruz (R-TX) 1/12: We Must Prevent a Nuclear-Armed Islamic Regime and Stand with the Courageous Iranian People
Corker (R-TN) 1/12: Statement on Trump Administration Iran Announcement
Brown (D-OH) 1/12: Brown Responds To Trump Administration Decision on Iran Nuclear Agreement
Reed (D-NV) 1/12: Reed Statement on Trump’s Iran Nuclear Deal Decision (“…Unfortunately, the President seems intent on disrupting the international consensus that was achieved by the Iran nuclear deal – with the possible consequence of adding an Iranian nuclear crisis to the one we are already facing with North Korea.”)
Murphy (D-CT) 1/12: Murphy Statement On Trump Administration Decision To Uphold Iran Deal (“…even President Trump knows that the JCPOA is working and furthers our national security interests. Iran is complying with the deal, and it would be self-defeating for the United States to pull out now and be blamed for the collapse of the agreement…We continue to have many problems with Iran, but they’re all much easier to handle without the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon. I still believe this deal is the best chance the world has at making sure Iran doesn’t become a nuclear power, and I’ll continue to work to make sure it stays in place.”)
Markey (D-MA) 1/12: Senator Markey Reiterates Support for Iran Deal; Blasts Trump Administration for Repeatedly Undermining America’s Global Credibility (“…the Trump administration has once again needlessly undermined America’s credibility around the world by threatening to renege on commitments it made not just with Iran, but with some of our most important allies as well, later this year. If America walks away from the Iran nuclear deal, our chances for meaningful negotiations to address another nuclear crisis in North Korea will evaporate.”)
Cardin (D-MD) 1/12: Cardin Reacts to Trump’s Statement Waiving JCPOA-related Sanctions, Harming Potential Negotiations with Congress (“…I remain open to discussing legislative options that would not violate the JCPOA and that have the support of our European partners…Instead of leading an international negotiation on the agreement himself, however, the President’s statement making threats and dictating final terms of potential negotiations with Congress and Europe makes it more challenging to achieve this objective.”)
Inhofe (R-OK) 1/12: Statement on Iran Nuclear Deal
Wilson (R-SC) 1/12: Wilson Statement on President Trump’s Iran Nuclear Deal Announcement