[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 256 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 256

     Expressing the sense of Congress that any official within the 
Government of Iran at the level of deputy minister or higher or officer 
within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is presumptively ineligible for 
                  a travel visa to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 22, 2010

    Mr. Himes (for himself and Mr. Klein of Florida) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of Congress that any official within the 
Government of Iran at the level of deputy minister or higher or officer 
within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is presumptively ineligible for 
                  a travel visa to the United States.

Whereas the Government of Iran was designated a state sponsor of terrorism under 
        section 6(j)(1)(A) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 
        App. 2405(j)(1)(A)), section 620A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
        1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371(a)), and section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control 
        Act (22 U.S.C. 2780(d));
Whereas, according to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights 
        Practices for 2008, the Government of Iran's ``poor human rights record 
        worsened, and it continued to commit numerous serious abuses . . . the 
        government severely limited citizens' right to change their government 
        peacefully through free and fair elections . . . authorities held 
        political prisoners and intensified a crackdown against women's rights 
        reformers, ethnic minority rights activists, student activists, and 
        religious minorities'';
Whereas the Government of Iran has engaged in a pattern of deception and evasion 
        while the international community has sought to ensure in good faith 
        that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, and poses a direct security 
        threat to the United States and its allies in the region;
Whereas the Government of Iran and pro-government militias continue to brutally 
        suppress the Iranian people through censorship, imprisonment, and 
        continued acts of violence against citizens seeking the exercise of 
        basic freedoms;
Whereas the Government of Iran has been responsible for the deaths of United 
        States soldiers and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Iran's 
        provision of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and explosively formed 
        penetrators to insurgent forces in both theaters of war;
Whereas the Government of Iran provides significant and ongoing economic and 
        logistical support to terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah, 
        Hamas, and others;
Whereas officials representing the Government of Iran have made and continue to 
        make belligerent and unprovoked statements regarding the most critical 
        regional ally of the United States, the State of Israel, including 
        denial of the Holocaust and calls for the complete destruction of Israel 
        itself;
Whereas the concerns of the United States regarding Iran are strictly the result 
        of the actions of the Government of Iran, that the people of the United 
        States have feelings of friendship for the people of Iran, and that 
        cultural exchanges and regulated travel between the people of Iran and 
        of the United States is a benefit to both nations;
Whereas the Government of Iran regularly sponsors, displays, and disseminates 
        propaganda calling for the destruction or defeat of the United States, 
        often employing the phrase ``Death to America'', and referring to the 
        United States as ``the Great Satan'';
Whereas high-ranking members of the Government of Iran are known to have 
        traveled freely to the United States to make use of medical facilities, 
        visit tourist attractions, and in other ways enjoy access to social, 
        economic, and recreational opportunities within the United States;
Whereas, due to a higher probability of satisfying the economic and social 
        criteria required as part of the Department of State's travel visa 
        process, Iranians with economic and political connections to the 
        Government of Iran are more likely to enjoy the benefits of travel to 
        the United States than the average Iranian citizen; and
Whereas the United States cannot continue to allow the inherent hypocrisy of an 
        anti-American regime whose members benefit disproportionately from the 
        ability to travel freely to, and enjoy the benefits of, opportunities, 
        and resources available within the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that any official within the 
Government of Iran at the level of deputy minister or higher or officer 
within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is presumptively ineligible for 
a travel visa to the United States.
                                 <all>