[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE IRAN SANCTIONS ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 2010

  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Iran Sanctions 
Enhancement Act, a bipartisan measure to enforce U.S. law regarding 
Iran.
  As the New York Times reported last Sunday, for far too long, 
international businesses have ignored the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996.
  The Iranian regime continues its pursuit of nuclear weapons and 
remains the world's leading sponsor of terrorist organizations, 
including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. While 
the original ISA was intended to deter investment in Iran's energy 
sector that serves as the main source of financial support for the 
regime, no entity has ever been held accountable under the Act.
  The executive branch has disregarded the enforcement of existing U.S. 
sanctions on Iran for far too long--and this Administration has been no 
exception to the rule. In October of last year, fifty members of 
Congress wrote to the Administration, requesting an investigation of 
potential ISA violators identified by the non-partisan Congressional 
Research Service (CRS). Despite a pledge by the Assistant Secretary of 
State Jeffrey Feltman to conduct such an investigation within 45 days, 
the Administration still has not provided Congress with the full 
results of its investigation.
  Therefore, this bill would require the President to investigate and 
determine ISA violators within 45 days and to notify Congress. To aid 
the Administration's efforts, this bill mandates the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) to publish monthly a list of those entities 
suspected of violating the ISA.
  The time to act is now. To stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and 
curb its sponsorship of global terrorism, I urge my colleagues to join 
in cosponsoring this important bipartisan legislation.

                          ____________________