[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 97 (Friday, June 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMPREHENSIVE IRAN SANCTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DIVESTMENT ACT OF 
                                  2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2010

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2194, the Iran 
Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act. This bill will impose an 
array of tough new economic penalties aimed at persuading Iran to 
change its conduct. This act would levy sanctions against business 
entities involved in refined petroleum sales to Iran and Iran's 
domestic refining efforts.
  It would also impose sanctions against international banking 
institutions involved with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 
(IRGC), which has a destabilizing effect throughout the region. Most 
importantly, it would punish against entities involved in Iran's 
illicit nuclear program or its support for terrorism.
  This conference agreement is an improvement over the version I 
supported last December by supplementing energy sanctions with an 
additional, powerful set of banking prohibitions.
  This legislation complements sanctions imposed by the UN Security 
Council earlier this month. The UN Resolution demanded that Iran 
suspend all uranium enrichment activity, and requires Iran to fully 
cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and 
provide inspectors access without delay to all sites, people and 
documents that they request. It also strengthens an arms embargo and 
imposes new sanctions on banks and Revolutionary Guard activities. Just 
this week, Iran has indicated its refusal to abide by the UN sanctions 
by refusing to give access to IAEA inspectors.
  I am deeply concerned about the Iranian regime's lack of transparency 
about its nuclear program and intentions. While sources disagree about 
the length of time it might take Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, the 
destabilizing effects that action would cause are unacceptable.
  As we consider ways to hold the Iranian regime accountable, we must 
be wary that poorly-crafted sanctions can harm the often-powerless 
Iranian people. We must punish their leaders, not the people in Iran, 
many of whom want democracy. I believe that this legislation strikes 
the appropriate balance. I urge my colleagues to support the 
legislation.