[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IRAN THREAT REDUCTION ACT OF 2011

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                               speech of

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2011

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, let's start with what we know:
  First, Iran is actively seeking nuclear weapons, and the 
international community has ratcheted up sanctions to prevent Tehran 
from getting the bomb.
  Second, Iran is attempting to circumvent these sanctions, with 
Iranian nationals establishing front companies in other countries to 
get around U.N. restrictions.
  Just this year, a grand jury indicted a firm established by Iranians 
but operating in Istanbul for allegedly procuring materials for Iran's 
ballistic missile program.
  Third, we must be vigilant about companies that deliberately hide 
their ties to Iran.
  But what about companies that don't even try to conceal their Iranian 
connections?
  In October, this Congress passed H.R. 1904, the Southeast Arizona 
Land Exchange and Conservation Act. This bill will allow Rio Tinto, a 
foreign company that does business with Iran, to obtain public land in 
Arizona so that it can mine for copper here in the United States.
  But when Republicans in this chamber had a chance to join Democrats 
to ensure these business ties between Rio Tinto and Iran were severed 
as a condition of doing business on our land, every single member of 
the Republican majority voted no.
  With the threat of nuclear weapons landing in the hands of 
Ahmadinejad, the stakes are simply too high to change the rules when 
the majority sees fit.
  Vote yes on H.R. 1905 today, and we must insist on strong nuclear 
nonproliferation conditions in H.R. 1904.

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