[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2526-E2527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IRAN SANCTIONS ENABLING ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 13, 2009

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor and supporter of 
H.R. 1327, the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act. The apparent pursuit of 
nuclear weapons capability by the Government of Iran cannot be met with 
silence. Iran's history of concealing its nuclear facilities and 
programs has rightfully alarmed the international community about 
Iranian Government's ambitions. The revelation last month of a 
previously undisclosed uranium enrichment facility under construction 
near Qom adds to a growing list of deeply troubling actions by the 
Iranian regime. President Obama stated clearly that this new facility 
does not appear to be configured for the production of fuel for nuclear 
power reactors. Iran has a responsibility to fully comply with the 
International Atomic Energy Agency inspections and to definitively 
clarify the status and nature of the Qom site.
  Unfortunately, the mistrust and skepticism surrounding the Iranian 
nuclear issue are a result of more than Iran's covert efforts. The 
provocative and threatening rhetoric that we have come to expect from 
the President of Iran is cause for great concern both for our allies, 
such as Israel, and for our own interests in the region. In addition, 
we have witnessed the Iranian regime carry out brutal acts of violence 
against Iranian citizens as they gathered peacefully to express their 
political beliefs. The United States cannot ignore this violation of 
basic human rights, but neither can we ignore the stark reminder about 
the potential consequences of a nuclear weapon in the hands of a 
government that expresses such disregard for the lives and liberties of 
its own citizens.
  Taken together, the Iranian Government's actions are inconsistent 
with those of a nation seeking peaceful nuclear energy technology. It 
is incumbent upon the Government of Iran to demonstrate unequivocally 
to the international community that it is not attempting to cultivate 
nuclear weapons.
  Until the Iranian regime fulfills this responsibility, Iran will face 
the consequences of noncompliance with this internationally recognized 
obligation. The provisions of the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act should be 
part of those consequences. This bill would authorize state and local 
governments to divest their assets from, and prohibit investment in, 
any company

[[Page E2527]]

that invests $20 million or more in Iran's energy sector. It also 
protects from legal action any asset managers who choose to divest 
assets from, or avoid investing in, persons or companies with the same 
level of financial ties with Iran's energy sector. These are common 
sense measures that enable state and local governments or individual 
U.S. citizens to choose not to allow their financial investments to 
support companies or persons that contribute to the prosperity and 
strength of the current Iranian government.
  I firmly believe that the United States must do everything in its 
power to prevent Iran from further destabilizing the Middle East by 
obtaining a nuclear weapon, and I am encouraged by the Obama 
administration's vigorous diplomatic efforts to achieve that end. The 
Iranians should be given credit for their recent tentative agreements 
to meet international expectations, but these words must be matched 
with sincere and transparent actions that convince the international 
community of Iran's peaceful intentions. To that end, I note that the 
provisions of H.R. 1327 would terminate upon certification by the 
President that Iran is no longer designated a state sponsor of 
terrorism and has ceased the pursuit of nuclear, biological, and 
chemical weapons. It is my hope that this sunset clause serves as a 
potent reminder to the Iranian government that while all actions have 
consequences, the United States always stands ready to match positive 
actions with positive consequences. I urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation.

                          ____________________