[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2262-E2263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IRAN THREAT REDUCTION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2011

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, this statement is submitted as an 
extension of my remarks on the House floor, December 13, 2011, 
discussing H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011:
  I thank my friend from California, the Ranking Member of the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee, for discussing Section 601(c) of the Iran 
Threat Reduction Act of 2011 with me.
  Despite his helpful words, I still have strong reservations about 
language used in this legislation.
  Specifically with the language in Section 601(c) of this bill, which 
states that:

       ``No person employed with the United States Government may 
     contact in an official or unofficial capacity any person that 
     is an agent, instrumentality, or official of, is affiliated 
     with, or is serving as a representative of the Government of 
     Iran; and presents a threat to the United States or is 
     affiliated with terrorist organizations.''


[[Page E2263]]


  As most of my colleagues would agree, the whole of the Iranian 
government is itself a ``threat'' to the United States. Further, Iran 
actively supports terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, 
both listed as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the State Department. 
It would be strange logic indeed to disassociate any of the officials 
who work for Iran from a ``threat'' to the U.S. It would appear 
impossible to comply with this language.
  Given the inability to comply with this language, this leaves the 
waiver provision by the President as the only means to initiating 
contact with Iran. Diplomacy tied to a 15-day countdown is ineffective 
at best and extremely dangerous at worst. Luckily, this restriction on 
the Executive Power to conduct the country's foreign policy is likely 
unconstitutional. This waiver is, on its face, questionable, 
unnecessarily ties the hands of our President, and is poor policy.
  Congress would be better served in these challenging times to do its 
own job, rather than making it harder for the President to do his.

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