[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 24, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6754-S6755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 252--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON STEPS THE 
  GOVERNMENT OF IRAN MUST TAKE BEFORE PRESIDENT OBAMA MEETS WITH THE 
                           PRESIDENT OF IRAN

  Mr. CRUZ submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 252

       Whereas the newly elected President of Iran, Hassan 
     Rouhani, is attending the 68th session of the United Nations 
     General Assembly in New York City;
       Whereas the Government of Iran has yet to take any 
     practical steps towards halting Iran's nuclear programs and 
     remains a committed state-sponsor of terrorist groups that 
     have been responsible for American deaths in Lebanon, Saudi 
     Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan;
       Whereas, since the election of President Rouhani, the 
     persecution by the Government of Iran of religious 
     minorities, notably Christians, has increased not decreased, 
     and the United States citizen Pastor Sayeed Abedini has 
     endured a year of brutal imprisonment for professing his 
     faith;
       Whereas President Rouhani has called Israel the ``Zionist 
     state'' that has been ``a wound that has sat on the body of 
     the Muslim world for years and needs to be removed''; and

[[Page S6755]]

       Whereas President Barack Obama has signaled a willingness 
     to meet with President Rouhani in New York during the meeting 
     of the United Nations Security Council or thereafter: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that President 
     Obama should not engage in any meeting with President Rouhani 
     before the Government of Iran--
       (1) affirms the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state; 
     and
       (2) immediately and without conditions releases all United 
     States citizens unjustly detained as prisoners of conscience 
     in Iran.

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