[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1248-S1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCONNELL:
  S. 625. A bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of 
agreements relating to Iran's nuclear program, and for other purposes; 
read the first time.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 625

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Nuclear Agreement 
     Review Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF AGREEMENTS WITH 
                   IRAN RELATING TO THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM OF IRAN.

       The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is 
     amended by inserting after section 134 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 135. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF AGREEMENTS 
                   WITH IRAN.

       ``(a) Transmission to Congress of Nuclear Agreements With 
     Iran and Verification Assessment With Respect to Such 
     Agreements.--
       ``(1) Transmission of agreements.--Not later than 5 
     calendar days after reaching an agreement with Iran relating 
     to the nuclear program of Iran, the President shall transmit 
     to the appropriate congressional committees--
       ``(A) the text of the agreement and all related materials 
     and annexes;
       ``(B) a verification assessment report of the Secretary of 
     State prepared under paragraph (2) with respect to the 
     agreement; and
       ``(C) a certification that--
       ``(i) the agreement includes the appropriate terms, 
     conditions, and duration of the agreement's requirements with 
     respect to Iran's nuclear activities and provisions 
     describing any sanctions to be waived, suspended, or 
     otherwise reduced by the United States, and any other nation 
     or entity, including the United Nations; and
       ``(ii) the President determines the agreement meets United 
     States non-proliferation objectives, does not jeopardize the 
     common defense and security, provides an adequate framework 
     to ensure that Iran's nuclear activities permitted thereunder 
     will not be inimical to or constitute an unreasonable risk to 
     the common defense and security, and ensures that Iran's 
     nuclear activities permitted thereunder will not be used to 
     further any nuclear-related military or nuclear explosive 
     purpose, including for any research on or development of any 
     nuclear explosive device or any other nuclear-related 
     military purpose.
       ``(2) Verification assessment report.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of State shall prepare, 
     with respect to an agreement described in paragraph (1), a 
     report assessing--
       ``(i) the extent to which the Secretary will be able to 
     verify that Iran is complying with its obligations under the 
     agreement;
       ``(ii) the adequacy of the safeguards and other control 
     mechanisms and other assurances contained in the agreement 
     with respect to Iran's nuclear program to ensure Iran's 
     activities permitted thereunder will not be used to further 
     any nuclear-related military or nuclear explosive purpose, 
     including for any research on or development of any nuclear 
     explosive device or any other nuclear-related military 
     purpose; and
       ``(iii) the capacity and capability of the International 
     Atomic Energy Agency to effectively implement the 
     verification regime required by the agreement, including 
     whether the International Atomic Energy Agency has the 
     required funding, manpower, and authority to do so.
       ``(B) Assumptions.--In preparing a report under 
     subparagraph (A) with respect to an agreement described in 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall assume that Iran could--
       ``(i) use all measures not expressly prohibited by the 
     agreement to conceal activities that violate its obligations 
     under the agreement; and
       ``(ii) alter or deviate from standard practices in order to 
     impede efforts to verify that Iran is complying with those 
     obligations.
       ``(C) Classified annex.--A report under subparagraph (A) 
     shall be transmitted in unclassified form, but shall include 
     a classified annex prepared in consultation with the Director 
     of National Intelligence, summarizing relevant classified 
     information.
       ``(3) Exception.--The requirements of subparagraphs (B) and 
     (C) of paragraph (1) shall not apply to an agreement defined 
     in subsection (i)(4).
       ``(b) Period for Review by Congress of Nuclear Agreements 
     With Iran.--
       ``(1) In general.--During the 60-day period following 
     transmittal by the President of an agreement pursuant to 
     subsection (a), the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives shall, as appropriate, hold hearings and 
     briefings and otherwise obtain information in order to fully 
     review such agreement.
       ``(2) Limitation on actions during period of review.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as 
     provided in paragraph (3), during the period for review 
     provided in paragraph (1), the President may not waive, 
     suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the 
     application of statutory sanctions with respect to Iran under 
     any provision of law or refrain from applying any such 
     sanctions pursuant to an agreement described in subsection 
     (a).
       ``(3) Exception.--The prohibition under paragraph (2) does 
     not apply to any deferral, waiver, or other suspension of 
     statutory sanctions pursuant to the Joint Plan of Action if 
     that deferral, waiver, or other suspension is made--
       ``(A) consistent with the law in effect on the date of the 
     enactment of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015; 
     and
       ``(B) not later than 45 days before the transmission by the 
     President of an agreement, assessment report, and 
     certification under subsection (a).
       ``(c) Effect of Congressional Action With Respect to 
     Nuclear Agreements With Iran.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, action involving any measure of statutory sanctions 
     relief by the United States pursuant to an agreement subject 
     to subsection (a) or the Joint Plan of Action--
       ``(A) may be taken, consistent with existing statutory 
     requirements for such action, if, during the period for 
     review provided in subsection (b)(1), the Congress adopts, 
     and there is enacted, a joint resolution stating in substance 
     that the Congress does favor the agreement;
       ``(B) may not be taken if, during the period for review 
     provided in subsection (b)(1), the Congress adopts, and there 
     is enacted, a joint resolution stating in substance that the 
     Congress does not favor the agreement; or
       ``(C) may be taken, consistent with existing statutory 
     requirements for such action, if, following the period for 
     review provided in subsection (b)(1), there is not enacted 
     any such joint resolution.
       ``(2) Definition.--For the purposes of this subsection, the 
     phrase `action involving any measure of statutory sanctions 
     relief by the United States' shall include waiver, 
     suspension, reduction, or other effort to provide relief 
     from, or otherwise limit the application of statutory 
     sanctions with respect to, Iran under any provision of law or 
     any other effort to refrain from applying any such sanctions.
       ``(d) Congressional Oversight of Iranian Compliance With 
     Nuclear Agreements.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President shall, within 10 days of 
     receiving credible and accurate information relating to a 
     potentially significant breach or compliance incident by Iran 
     with respect to an agreement subject to subsection (a), 
     submit such information to the appropriate congressional 
     committees.
       ``(2) Material breach report.--Not later than 10 days after 
     submitting information about a potentially significant breach 
     or compliance incident pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
     President shall make a determination whether such potentially 
     significant breach or compliance issue constitutes a material 
     breach and shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees such determination, accompanied by, as 
     appropriate, a report on the action or failure to act by Iran 
     that led to the material breach, actions necessary for Iran 
     to cure the breach, and the status of Iran's efforts to cure 
     the breach.
       ``(3) Semi-annual report.--Not later than 180 days after 
     entering into an agreement described in subsection (a), and 
     not less frequently than once every 180 days thereafter, the 
     President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report on Iran's nuclear program and the 
     compliance of Iran with the agreement during the period

[[Page S1249]]

     covered by the report, including the following elements:
       ``(A) Any action or failure to act by Iran that breached 
     the agreement or is in noncompliance with the terms of the 
     agreement.
       ``(B) Any delay by Iran of more than one week in providing 
     inspectors access to facilities, people, and documents in 
     Iran as required by the agreement.
       ``(C) Any progress made by Iran to resolve concerns by the 
     International Atomic Energy Agency about possible military 
     dimensions of Iran's nuclear program.
       ``(D) Any procurement by Iran of materials in violation of 
     the agreement.
       ``(E) Any centrifuge research and development conducted by 
     Iran that--
       ``(i) is not in compliance with the agreement; or
       ``(ii) may substantially enhance the enrichment capacity of 
     Iran if deployed.
       ``(F) Any diversion by Iran of uranium, carbon-fiber, or 
     other materials for use in Iran's nuclear program in 
     violation of the agreement.
       ``(G) Any covert nuclear activities undertaken by Iran.
       ``(H) An assessment of whether any Iranian financial 
     institutions are engaged in money laundering or terrorist 
     finance activities, including names of specific financial 
     institutions if applicable.
       ``(I) An assessment of--
       ``(i) whether, and the extent to which, Iran supported acts 
     of terrorism; and
       ``(ii) whether Iran directly supported, financed, planned, 
     or carried out an act of terrorism against the United States 
     or a United States person anywhere in the world.
       ``(4) Additional reports and information.--
       ``(A) Agency reports.--Following submission of an agreement 
     pursuant to subsection (a) to the appropriate congressional 
     committees, the Department of State, the Department of 
     Energy, and the Department of Defense shall, upon the request 
     of either of those committees, promptly furnish to those 
     committees their views as to whether the safeguards and other 
     controls contained in the agreement with respect to Iran's 
     nuclear program provide an adequate framework to ensure that 
     Iran's activities permitted thereunder will not be inimical 
     to or constitute an unreasonable risk to the common defense 
     and security.
       ``(B) Provision of information on nuclear initiatives with 
     iran.--The President shall keep the appropriate congressional 
     committees fully and currently informed of any initiative or 
     negotiations with Iran relating Iran's nuclear program, 
     including any new or amended agreement.
       ``(5) Certification.--After the review period provided in 
     subsection (b)(1), the President shall, not less than every 
     90 days--
       ``(A) determine whether the President is able to certify 
     that--
       ``(i) Iran is transparently, verifiably, and fully 
     implementing the agreement, including all related technical 
     or additional agreements;
       ``(ii) Iran has not committed a material breach with 
     respect to the agreement or, if Iran has committed a material 
     breach, Iran has cured the material breach;
       ``(iii) Iran has not taken any action, including covert 
     action, that could significantly advance its nuclear weapons 
     program;
       ``(iv) Iran has not directly supported or carried out an 
     act of terrorism against the United States or a United States 
     person anywhere in the world; and
       ``(v) suspension of sanctions related to Iran pursuant to 
     the agreement is--

       ``(I) appropriate and proportionate to the specific and 
     verifiable measures taken by Iran with respect to terminating 
     its illicit nuclear program; and
       ``(II) vital to the national security interests of the 
     United States; and

       ``(B) if the President determines he is able to make the 
     certification described in subparagraph (A), make such 
     certification to the appropriate congressional committees.
       ``(e) Expedited Consideration of Legislation.--
       ``(1) In general.--In the event the President does not 
     submit a certification pursuant to subsection (d)(5) or has 
     determined pursuant to subsection (d)(2) that Iran has 
     materially breached an agreement subject to subsection (a), 
     Congress may initiate within 60 days expedited consideration 
     of qualifying legislation pursuant to this subsection.
       ``(2) Qualifying legislation defined.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term `qualifying legislation' means only a 
     bill of either House of Congress--
       ``(A) the title of which is as follows: `A bill reinstating 
     statutory sanctions imposed with respect to Iran.'; and
       ``(B) the matter after the enacting clause of which is: 
     `Any statutory sanctions imposed with respect to Iran 
     pursuant to ______