[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF NON-PROLIFERATION EFFORTS AND IRANIAN 
                               SANCTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the grave threat 
posed to the stability of the Middle East if the Iranian regime were to 
acquire or develop nuclear weapons technology.
  In June, CIA Director Leon Panetta speculated that Iran probably has 
enough low-enriched uranium for two nuclear weapons. The silver lining, 
if there is one, is that according to Panetta we likely have sometime 
before they would be able to build weapons with this material. I firmly 
support the Administration's effort to use this limited time to press 
Iran in every way available to deter them from attaining a nuclear 
capability. It is important that the President have strong tools to 
enforce this effort, which is why I co-sponsored the Iran Sanctions 
Accountability and Divestment Act, which was signed into law on July 1, 
2010. These sanctions have also been backed by the European Union.
  Last week, in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International 
Studies, Stuart Levey, the Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and 
Financial Intelligence, said U.S. and international sanctions are 
``dramatically isolating Iran financially and commercially.'' He was 
optimistic that this ``can and will create leverage for our 
diplomacy.'' By targeting Iran's import of refined petroleum and its 
banking industries, these sanctions are putting a squeeze on the regime 
and hopefully will ultimately discourage any illicit activity.
  As Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I know all too well 
the seriousness of the nuclear weapons business. While these weapons 
cannot be put ``back in their bottle,'' responsible nations with this 
technology can work to stop those who seek to acquire them in order to 
hold the world and their neighbors hostage. I commend President Obama, 
Secretary of State Clinton, and my predecessor and friend Ellen 
Tauscher on making non-proliferation a cornerstone of U.S. foreign 
policy, and I hope the world community will join us in prioritizing 
non-proliferation and maintaining pressure on Iran as one critical step 
towards this goal.

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