[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 141 (Tuesday, November 18, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8039-H8040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ON THE EVE OF A NUCLEAR DEAL WITH IRAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. McDermott) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning on what could be the 
eve of a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran as U.S. and 
European and Iranian negotiators are going back to Vienna for a final 
round of talks.
  With so much of the region in turmoil right now, it seems hard to 
imagine that we could be on the verge of, arguably, the most important 
diplomatic achievement in the Middle East in recent U.S. history. The 
leadership of President Obama, the tenacity of the U.S. negotiators, 
and the determination of President Rouhani and his team have set the 
stage for a landmark agreement that would turn the page on decades of 
distrust, dissension, and cynicism.
  Here is what the nuclear deal would mean: a profound reduction in the 
decades-long tension between Iran, the U.S., and our allies that has 
set us on a path to war; a contained Iranian nuclear program with 
verifiable, internationally accepted limits; meaningful sanctions 
relief that bolsters Iran's flagging economy and allows U.S. businesses 
access to a potentially vibrant market; finally, an opening for a 
broader understanding between the U.S. and Iran, as well as an 
opportunity to work with Iran as an ally in the fight against ISIS.
  Like all compromises, there may be parts of this deal that Americans 
won't like, and there may be parts of this deal that Iranians won't 
like, but such is the definition of cooperation--working together for 
something meaningful and building momentum toward a solution even when 
the easiest option is to get up and walk away.
  President Obama deserves enormous credit for his steely resolve in 
pursuit of a nuclear deal, especially in the face of those hoping he 
will fail. If we do not reach a nuclear accord next week, if a deal is 
delayed, or if, heaven forbid, the talks collapse, I believe President 
Obama is still owed our thanks.
  It has become fashionable around these halls and certainly in the 
media these days to deride the 44th President, to call him ``aloof'' 
when he acts methodically or to threaten impeachment when he acts 
decisively to promote the best interests of the American people. The 
fact that he has the audacity to try with persistence and openness, in 
the face of withering doubt from

[[Page H8040]]

friends and allies, is a mark of a true statesman. Many in this Chamber 
have already raised their strong objections, as we have recently heard, 
to a potential deal, and they make no secret of their thinking of 
President Obama as being on a fool's errand, but I am reminded of what 
Teddy Roosevelt said of leadership.
  He said:

       Credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, 
     whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood . . . who, 
     at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high 
     achievement and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least 
     fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be 
     with those cold and timid souls who seek neither victory nor 
     defeat.

  President Obama deserves credit for what he is doing, and we wish him 
Godspeed in the negotiations as they come to their near end.

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