[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 
                               YEAR 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4435) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of language 
Representative Doug Lamborn offered when the Committee on Armed 
Services marked-up the National Defense Authorization Act.
  Like most Americans, I remain concerned about Iran's state 
sponsorship of terrorism, its horrendous human rights record, its 
efforts to destabilize its neighbors, its pursuit of intercontinental 
ballistic missiles, and its threats against our ally, Israel, as well 
as the fates of American citizens detained by Iran. I remain extremely 
alarmed by Iran's pursuit of uranium enrichment and plutonium 
separation efforts. In spite of Iran's statements to the contrary, I am 
concerned that these materials are in fact part of a nuclear weapons 
program. The pursuit of nuclear materials under the proclamation of 
peaceful energy initiatives raises some serious concerns when coming 
from a country with a terrible human rights record and ties to 
terrorist groups. It is both a necessity and a priority that the United 
States ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.
  On November 24, 2013, Iran accepted the terms of an international 
proposal to temporarily halt further expansion of its nuclear program, 
in return for relief from economic sanctions. While this proposal would 
in theory limit Iran's nuclear enrichment program, it does nothing to 
prevent Iran from pursuing a warhead or nuclear delivery system for a 
nuclear weapon or curtailing other issues that are threats to U.S. 
security and the security of our allies. That is why I am supportive of 
Representative Lamborn's amendment. This amendment makes it crystal 
clear, that it is the intent of the United States Congress that the 
U.S. should only agree to a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear 
program if Iran ceases uranium enrichment, ceases all of their nuclear, 
chemical, biological, chemical weapon programs, ballistic missile 
program, and ballistic launch site technology and Iran has ceased 
providing support for international terrorist.
  The United States government must use every tool possible to deter 
threats from Iran. Economic sanctions remain an important and necessary 
tool to deterring aggressive actions. Should the United States provide 
any relief from these Congressional mandated sanctions, it is 
imperative that Iran halt all activities that are threatening to our 
national interests. Mr. Lamborn's amendment is an important and 
appropriate addition to the National Defense Authorization Act, and I 
look forward to seeing it included in law.

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