[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         H.R. 1400, THE IRAN COUNTER-PROLIFERATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, the Iranian government 
continues to defy the international community in its pursuit of nuclear 
weapons. In the past, it denounced United Nations Security Council 
Resolutions imposing sanctions as ``illegal'' and ``invalid.'' And just 
this week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke before the U.N. 
General Assembly and announced that the nuclear issue in Iran was 
closed.
  It is obvious to all of us that Iran's nuclear development programs 
are a concern for our Nation. Our Nation's security would be greatly 
affected by Iranian control over any nuclear weapons. However, we must 
not forget that, in addition to its disregard for the international 
community, the regime in place has abhorrent civil liberties and human 
rights practices within Iran. In the past 5 years, hundreds of 
newspapers have been closed, hundreds of pro-reform websites have been 
blocked, and innumerable people have been unjustly imprisoned. Just 
this year, Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, an Iranian-American, was jailed for 
months for unsubstantiated accusations that she was trying to set up 
networks of Iranians to start a revolution to bring down the 
government. In fact, she has long been an advocate for building bridges 
between the United States and the Middle East. While Dr. Esfandiari has 
been released, countless others have not, and it is clear that we must 
work to stop these baseless and ruthless actions.
  While we address our ongoing concerns, we must be vigilant in 
ensuring that the United States works with the international community 
and approaches the Middle East diplomatically. As our Nation has 
learned, we must be willing to do everything that is necessary to 
protect our Nation and its people; however, we must not preemptively 
strike other sovereign nations because of incomplete and questionable 
information. What we must all agree on is that Iranian nuclear 
capability must continue to be investigated, discussed, and debated--
throughout this Congress, the Nation, and the world.
  Nonetheless, while we attempt to address these situations 
diplomatically, these actions must be backed by strong sanctions 
against the regime in Tehran. It is with this knowledge that I support 
H.R. 1400, the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007. This 
legislation, first and foremost, declares the support of diplomatic and 
economic means to resolve the Iranian nuclear situation, calls for 
enhanced U.N. Security Council efforts, and explicitly states that 
nothing authorizes the use of force in Iran. Additionally, the bill 
expands bilateral sanctions against Iran, prohibits the Presidential 
waiver of these sanctions, and increases oversight of the 
Administration's efforts.
  While critics of this legislation may consider these actions to be 
inflammatory, I instead see it as a necessary and diplomatic step that 
must be taken. Iran has long flouted its disregard for the 
international community and it must understand that it cannot pursue a 
nuclear weapons program and ignore international law without facing 
international political and economic repercussions.

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