[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           ELECTIONS IN IRAN

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 304, submitted by Senator 
Brownback today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 304) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that the United States should not support the February 
     20, 2004, elections in Iran, and that the United States 
     should advocate a democratic government in Iran that will 
     restore freedom to the Iranian people and will abandon 
     terrorism.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid on the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution 
be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 304) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 304

       Whereas there is a long history of mutual affection, 
     appreciation, and respect between the people of the United 
     States and the people of Iran, including the incalculable 
     efforts by the United States in providing humanitarian, 
     financial, and technological assistance to help the people of 
     Iran;
       Whereas the people of Iran have shown support for decency 
     and freedom, and solidarity with the United States, including 
     the demonstration of such support through candlelight vigils 
     attended by the youth of Iran in the wake of the September 
     11, 2001, attacks upon the United States;
       Whereas the Council of Guardians is a 12-member unelected 
     body, that has arbitrarily disqualified thousands of 
     candidates, including sitting Members of the Parliament of 
     Iran and members of the reformist movement;
       Whereas the elections scheduled to be held on February 20, 
     2004, in Iran are fatally flawed;
       Whereas the brave efforts of the people of Iran to promote 
     greater democracy and respect for human rights are being 
     thwarted by the actions of the Council of Guardians;
       Whereas the blatant interference of the Council of 
     Guardians in the electoral process ensures that the elections 
     scheduled for February 20, 2004, will be neither free nor 
     fair; and
       Whereas the circumstances in Iran clearly call into serious 
     question whether pro-democratic reform within the regime of 
     Iran is possible: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States should not support the elections in 
     Iran scheduled to take place on February 20, 2004, as such 
     elections stifle the growth of the democratic forces in Iran 
     and do not serve the national security interest of the United 
     States;
       (2) the support provided by the United States to Iran 
     should be provided to the people of Iran; and
       (3) the policy of the United States should be to advocate a 
     democratic government in Iran that will restore freedom to 
     the people of Iran, will abandon terrorism, will protect 
     human rights, and will live in peace and security with the 
     international community.

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