Meng Among Bipartisan Representatives Urging Senate Vote on Iran Sanctions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today a bipartisan coalition of House lawmakers launched an effort aimed at getting the Senate to increase sanctions on Iran.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman and Foreign Affairs Committee member Michael McCaul (R-TX), Foreign Affairs Committee member Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chief Deputy GOP Whip Peter Roskam (R-IL), and Foreign Affairs Committee member Grace Meng (D-NY) – joined by 59 members of the House – sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging them to take up legislation that would tighten sanctions on Iran's energy and financial sectors.

The measure, designed to force Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, passed the House in July by a vote of 400-20. But the bill has stalled in the Senate.

"As negotiations in Geneva are underway, we feel it is important to keep the pressure on Iran to maximize U.S. leverage," said the House lawmakers. "Indeed, it is because of tough U.S. sanctions against Iran that Tehran has come to the negotiating table. Security in the Middle East and around the world depends on strong U.S. leadership against a nuclear Iran."

Text of the letter is below. A pdf of the signed letter, with all signatories, can be found here.

November 14, 2013

The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Majority Leader Republican Leader

United States Senate United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell:

We urge you and your colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly to continue consideration of rigorous Iran sanctions legislation.

We believe that as the United States negotiates with the P5+1 group and Tehran, it is critical to maximize U.S. leverage against the Iranian regime. Thepossibility of tighter sanctions will enhance our leverage in the nuclear standoff between the Iran's Supreme Leader and the international community. Despite Hassan Rouhani's attempt to portray Iran's government in a new light, the objective of the Iranian regime remains the same: the pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.

The House has already passed legislation with the support of 400 bipartisan Representatives to increase economic pressure on the Iranian regime as it develops its nuclear weapons program. For more than three months thislegislation, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, has been pending in the Senate. Meanwhile, the Iranian government presses forward and each day the world becomes less safe.

While recent assessments of the progress of Iran's nuclear program vary—with some estimating that Iran is only weeks away from producing weapons-grade uranium—what is clear is that time is running short. Protractednegotiations may give Iran more time to spin its centrifuges, while the threat of enhanced sanctions holds the promise of compelling Iran to give up its ambitions.

While we support diplomatic efforts toward an Iran free of nuclear weapons and free of nuclear weapons breakout capability, the sanctions pressure must be maintained. Every day, existing sanctions may be weakened as Iran finds loopholes and business partners willing to evade existing sanctions.

Even Hassan Rouhani, the country's new president, bragged in 2006 that Iran had deceived European negotiators into talks while it continued to develop its nuclear program. We should ensure that tougher penalties be availableshould Tehran be found to be using the negotiations for stalling tactics.

The deliberative process in Congress is lengthy, and many steps remain before legislation on Iran would be sent to the President. We believe, therefore, that the Senate can continue the work necessary to develop sanctions legislation without fear of short-circuiting diplomacy.

Sincerely,

Michael T. McCaul

Brad Sherman

Peter J. Roskam

Grace Meng

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Michael Michaud

Paul Ryan

Colleen Hanabusa

Ted Poe

Gene Green

Pete Sessions

Brian Higgins

Peter King

Henry Cuellar

Daniel Lipinski

Juan Vargas

Lynn Jenkins

Steve Scalise

Adam Kinzinger

Jeff Miller

Jeff Duncan

George Holding

Trey Radel

Ron DeSantis

Mike Kelly

Aaron Schock

Steve Stockman

Susan Brooks

Tom Price, M.D.

Kevin Brady

Bill Flores

Blake Farenthold

Randy Weber

Leonard Lance

Vern Buchanan

Kerry Bentivolio

Kevin Yoder

Michele Bachmann

Scott Perry

Richard Hudson

Mario Diaz-Balart

Chris Gibson

Billy Long

Andy Barr

Rodney Davis

Chris Collins

David P. Joyce

Steve Stivers

Brad Wenstrup

Trent Franks

Rodney Frelinghuysen

Lynn Westmoreland

Brad Schneider

Robert Latta

Steve Pearce

Jim Gerlach

Gus Bilirakis

Doug Lamborn

Patrick McHenry

Doug LaMalfa

Jack Kingston

Paul C. Broun, M.D.

Roger Williams

Cc: Hon. Tim Johnson, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development

Hon. Mike Crapo, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development

Hon. Robert Menendez, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Hon. Bob Corker, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations