U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce released the following statement today regarding the House’s completion of a series of three votes relating to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear agreement, which Secretary of State John Kerry finalized in Vienna on July 17, 2015. Not only did the vast majority of the House of Representatives (162-269) vote AGAINST approval of this agreement (H.R. 3461), but the House also passed bipartisan legislation preventing the President from removing sanctions on the Iranian regime (H.R. 3460).
“Congress has the responsibility to serve and protect the American people,” said Pearce. “The action taken today against the so-called Iranian deal not only acts on behalf of the safety and security of our nation, but also responds to the will of the people. Nationwide, confusion, fear, and anger surround this deal – in large part because its details remain a secret to everyone, including Congress.”
“When President Obama signed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act into law earlier this year, he agreed to fully disclose every aspect – from handshake side agreements to major pacts – to Congress and the American people for full and complete review. Unfortunately, as the world learned in August, Iran had completed secret side agreements as part of that final deal, which to this day remain undisclosed from not only the public and Congress, but also senior officials within the Administration, including Secretary Kerry.
“Preventing a nuclear Iran, and ultimately an arms race in the Middle East, is far too important to allow politics and legacies to intervene. The American people have the right, by law, to full transparency and accountability in any deal relating to Iran’s nuclear stockpile. A well-known sponsor of terrorism, Iran should not be trusted to negotiate in good faith and with full disclosure. It is the responsibility of the United States and the rest of the world to ensure Tehran is held to its word and accountable to the deals it agrees to. This cannot happen without all the details. Today’s vote clearly states that the American people and Congress are not convinced all the information has been disclosed to them; they are not convinced this is a good deal for the safety of our nation and world; and, they are not convinced Iran will honor its word. I implore the President to provide Congress and the American people with the information they deserve, and provide a full 60 days to review the information before making a final decision.”
NOTE: The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (which was signed into law by President Obama on May 22, 2015) requires President Obama to provide every appendix, annex, side agreement, and related material of the final deal to Congress before a 60-day review process is enacted. The revelations in August of at least two secret side agreements clearly void the current 60-day review process, which began in July. Last night, the House passed H. Res. 411 reiterating this point.
Throughout the Iran negotiations, the President has claimed the deal is based not on trust, but verification. However, the secret deals are said to specify processes for verification and inspection – yet the President is denying the American people and Congress the opportunity to see them. We cannot place trust in a President hiding details and misleading the public any more than a country known to be a state sponsor of terror.
Today, the House took action on two additional measures related to the Iran nuclear agreement. The first declares that the President is not permitted to lift or waive sanctions against Iran. A complex web of sanctions against the country has been built by Congress over the last several decades. Lifting them would immediately provide Tehran with over $150 billion dollars, allowing them to support their terrorist agenda across the globe.
The second provided the House with the opportunity to approve the deal, right now, despite not having all the information. A reflection of the confusion, dishonesty, and veiled terms of this deal, the House soundly voted the bill down by a final vote of 162-269. A recent Pew study, found only 21% of Americans approve of the deal, while only 2% believe Iran’s leaders will stick to the agreement.