[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 131 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             APPROVAL OF JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

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                               speech of

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 10, 2015

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to begin with a couple quotes from 
the President about the agreement:
  ``There is nothing more important to our security and to the world's 
stability than preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and ballistic 
missiles.
  ``It does not rely on trust. Compliance will be certified by the 
International Atomic Energy Agency.''
  Mr. Speaker, you would be forgiven if you thought I was quoting 
President Obama. However, I was quoting President Bill Clinton lauding 
his nuclear agreement with North Korea in 1994. Additionally he stated, 
``This agreement will help to achieve a longstanding and vital American 
objective: an end to the threat of nuclear proliferation on the Korean 
Peninsula.''
  Mr. Speaker, we now know that reality turned out to be very 
different. Despite assurances from President Clinton, the North Koreans 
violated the deal, began a clandestine program to enrich uranium and in 
2006 conducted its first underground test of a nuclear weapon.
  Once again we are told by a Democrat President that an agreement will 
prevent an adversarial country from acquiring a nuclear weapon. We 
would be fools to believe that they will not violate the Obama 
agreement just as North Korea violated the Clinton agreement. The 
stakes here are even higher. Iran is a regime that will not hesitate to 
use nuclear weapons to achieve its long-stated goals: the destruction 
of both Israel and America.
  The Iran Nuclear Deal that was agreed to by President Obama is wholly 
inadequate and unacceptable. The deal gives up-front, permanent 
sanctions relief to the Iranian mullahs and allows Iran to have an 
internationally recognized nuclear program after 15 years that could 
quickly produce a nuclear weapon.
  Most laughable are the ``anytime, anywhere'' inspections. In fact, 
the agreement grants the Iranians 24 days to allow the IAEA access to 
undeclared nuclear facilities. This gives Iran ample opportunity to 
cheat and continue its march toward a nuclear weapon. We have also 
learned that the Iranians will be able to provide their own samples 
from their military base at Parchin to international inspectors. This 
is essentially asking the fox to guard the henhouse.
  I also have great concerns about what happens once sanctions are 
lifted and billions of dollars are flowing back into Iran. While the UN 
Security Council resolutions allegedly prevent Iran from shipping arms 
to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and to Assad in 
Syria, nothing prevents them from sending money. In an incredibly 
dangerous concession, the U.S. even agreed to shorten the length of the 
arms embargo against Iran. There is no question that this will 
negatively impact regional stability as well as the U.S. Navy's access 
to the Persian Gulf. An article in the Washington Post pointed out that 
the funds available to Iran immediately upon implementation of this 
deal would equate to approximately 10% of its GDP. That would be 
equivalent to a $1.7 trillion injection into our economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not believe this agreement will prevent Iran from 
acquiring nuclear weapons. I believe it will do just the opposite. In 
no way should a country that vows to wipe Israel off the map and chants 
``Death to America'' be allowed nuclear capabilities. Today marks a 
turning point for the future of one of our greatest allies, Israel. If 
this deal goes through, President Obama and Democrats in Congress will 
own the consequences of allowing the Iranian regime to become a nuclear 
power.
  We can and must have a better deal. A deal that truly allows for 
anytime/anywhere inspections. A deal that would keep restrictions on 
Iran's nuclear program for decades. A deal that forces Iran to end its 
missile development program. A deal that allows Iran truly limited 
enrichment capability. A deal that releases U.S. hostages in Iran. It 
is a catastrophic failure that President Obama did not insist on these 
provisions in the nuclear deal. We should be embarrassed that as the 
leader of the free world and the most powerful country on earth, this 
is the best deal President Obama could negotiate.
  We have been presented with a false choice of accepting this deal or 
going to war. We should reject this deal and return to work, not to 
war. We cannot allow the sanctions to be lifted, we must reject 
approval of the deal and we must have all the information--including 
side agreements--before the clock can begin on the deal. I urge my 
colleagues to stand with our ally Israel and with the American people. 
The consequences of these votes are truly life and death.

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