[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 106 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H4964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NEGOTIATIONS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Mrs. Roby) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the negotiations 
taking place right now in Switzerland over Iran's nuclear capability. 
With all that has been going on lately, I fear not enough attention is 
being paid to what I believe is one of the most important issues facing 
our country right now.
  Last week, the Obama administration quietly announced yet another 
deadline extension to the multilateral negotiations over Iran's nuclear 
capability, and this week, negotiators blew past that deadline once 
again.
  Of course, the goal for the United States and our allies must be to 
prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, recent reports 
out of Switzerland have raised concerns that our negotiators have 
already conceded too much on major points like uranium enrichment, 
economic sanctions relief, and inspection access.
  Mr. Speaker, the very fact that we keep extending the deadline tells 
you all you need to know about the priorities at play for this 
administration. It seems that President Obama and Secretary Kerry are 
so concerned with striking a deal--any deal--that they are unwilling to 
walk away from a bad one as deadlines keep passing.
  The Boston Globe reported that negotiators have spent their downtime 
speculating which movie stars would play them in a Hollywood movie 
about the Iran deal.
  If this is true, Americans should be outraged. This is an 
extraordinarily important issue that will have an extraordinarily far-
reaching effect on this country and the world for many years to come.
  The fact is we have had extension after extension and concession 
after concession to the point that I am not sure a good deal is even 
possible at this point.
  A few months ago, I traveled to the Middle East with the Speaker as 
part of his delegation to the region, and we visited countries that 
would be directly affected by dealing with a nuclear Iran--Israel, 
Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia.
  Our allies in the region are rightfully concerned that what is being 
brokered isn't good at all.

                              {time}  1045

  We cannot forget how high the stakes are here. If a bad deal is 
ratified, we aren't just talking about a nuclear armed Iran.
  We are talking about setting in motion a nuclear race, a chain of 
events that could allow multiple countries in this very volatile region 
of the world wanting to become nuclear as well.
  And after seeing the international community reward Iran's hostility 
and obstinance with a nuclear deal, who would blame them?
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of my colleagues in this 
Chamber and in the Senate. And I agree with Senator Corker, who is the 
chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who wrote a letter 
to the President, ``Walking away from a bad deal at this point would 
take courage, but it would be the best thing for the United States, the 
region, and the world.''
  We may not be able to control the outcome in Switzerland, but we can 
control how we respond if a bad deal is put forward.
  This Congress can have the final say whether or not to lift sanctions 
in Iran. It can have the final say on the deal, itself, by way of a 
resolution of disapproval.
  I believe Members of Congress must prepare to stand up and have the 
courage that it would take to stop a bad Iranian deal from happening. 
For some, this will take a lot of courage, but it is necessary.
  We cannot allow President Obama and Secretary Kerry to put their 
desire for a legacy achievement above the best interests of this Nation 
and our allies.

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