[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E662-E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IRAN FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr.  HOYER. Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bipartisan 
legislation--the Iran Freedom Support Act--which is a measured, 
appropriate and necessary response by this body to the continued 
belligerence and threatening actions of the Iranian regime.

[[Page E663]]

  Let none of us be mistaken: Iran, today, poses a grave and growing 
danger to international security and stability. And, this danger must 
not be ignored.
  Just yesterday, Iran's supreme religious leader, in a meeting with 
the president of Sudan, reportedly said that Iran was ready to share 
its nuclear technology with other countries.
  This was the latest in a series of outrageous and dangerous comments 
and actions undertaken by the government in Tehran.
  For example, the Iranian president recently has stated his hope for 
``a world without America'' and his desire to ``wipe Israel off the 
map.''
  Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. It supports Hezbollah, Hamas, 
and Islamic Jihad. It harbors al-Qaida operatives. And, it has 
maintained a hostile stance toward the United States and our national 
interests ever since Iranian radicals seized the American embassy in 
1979.
  Furthermore, there is little question today that Iran has engaged in 
a deliberate campaign of lies and deceit to conceal its quest for 
nuclear weapons.
  As the French foreign minister stated earlier this year: ``No 
civilian nuclear program can explain the Iranian nuclear program. It is 
a clandestine nuclear program.''
  In 2002, it was revealed that Iran was continuing to develop a 
nuclear program at two secret nuclear facilities--in direct violation 
of its international obligations.
  Last August, the Iranian government resumed its conversion of 
uranium, a development that led to a 27-to-3 vote in February by the 
International Atomic Energy Agency to report Iran to the U.N. Security 
Council.
  And, on March 29, the Security Council gave Iran 30 days--or until 
this Friday--to stop its nuclear activities.
  Unfortunately, the Iranian regime seems intent on following a path of 
confrontation rather than cooperation.
  And that is why I urge the members of this body to support this 
legislation, which, among other measures, would require the President 
to impose any two of six specified sanctions against any foreign 
company or entity investing $20 million or more in the development of 
Iran's oil or gas industry--so long as Iran refuses to dismantle its 
chemical, biological or nuclear weapons program.
  This bill also would authorize financial and political assistance to 
human rights dissidents and pro-democracy advocates in Iran.
  And, it expresses the sense of Congress that the President should 
instruct our U.N. representative to work to secure a Security Council 
resolution calling for sanctions on Iran for its repeated and flagrant 
breaches of its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
  Madam Speaker, the members of this body are properly focused on our 
Nation's continuing efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, we cannot 
afford to dismiss or ignore the grave danger looming in Iran.
  Let me emphasize, I believe that the international community has a 
collective obligation to exert its will on lawbreakers, such as Iran. 
This is not the duty alone of the United States or any other single 
state.
  The measure before us is warranted, appropriate and necessary. And I 
urge the members to support it.

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