[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





             APPROVAL OF JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. STACEY E. PLASKETT

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 10, 2015

  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Joint 
Comprehensive Plan of Action.
  Over these summer months my colleagues and I have engaged in--what I 
believe has been--enormous thought, analysis, consultation, and 
heartfelt introspection in taking a position on a matter that may 
determine the safety of the Middle East, and the United States' 
continued leadership in the world. For several years our nation has 
spearheaded sanctions, which have brought Iran to the negotiating 
table, and our President has presented to our nation a path to peace. 
For the last 30 years, American-Iranian relations have been trapped in 
not only suspicion and mistrust, but intractability; denying us the 
ability to develop even an agreement as to how we will manage our and 
our allies' relationship and interests in Iran. As a nation of 
democracy, dignity and freedom, fought for and defended by ourselves 
and our allies, I believe that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action 
(JCPOA) is the best means to protect and advance the best interests of 
our nation and those of our allies. I choose to support measures 
designed to build bridges to a future that may one day lead to peace.
  I fundamentally support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and 
commend Secretary John Kerry and Secretary Ernest Moniz for their 
leadership in these negotiations. We are not the only party to this 
Agreement and we are well aware that all other nations in the 
negotiation are ready and willing to sign the JCPOA. They are also 
ready to resume commercial relations with Iran, which will effectively 
remove economic sanctions, the stick which initially brought them to 
the table. Our leadership role demands that we follow through with the 
terms of this Agreement and continue to be at the helm of monitoring 
Iran. We must never walk away from our commitment to peace in the 
region and our alliance with Israel. If we walk away now, however, we 
have no voice. We isolate not only our leaders, but also our nation.
  No one believes this is a perfect outcome or that we have entered 
with complete faith in the other side. As a lawyer, I understand that 
no party is ever completely satisfied with agreements such as this. I 
am particularly concerned that the Agreement will require lifting the 
sanctions against Iran, which has been our main enforcement measure. 
Iran stands to recover approximately $100 billion once released from 
previously imposed sanctions. If we reject this deal, we waive any 
leverage to ensure the money is not used to advance a regime that would 
threaten our national and international security. I will work with my 
colleagues in Congress and the Administration as we ensure Iran abides 
by the terms of the Agreement and uses the money to promote economic 
stability globally and within the region.
  I have met with my constituents including those from both the Muslim 
and Jewish communities and am thankful for their thoughts on this 
subject, and even more so for their commitment to uplift the people of 
the Virgin Islands, our country and the world.
  Most important to this decision is my fear that military action would 
be the likely alternative to rejecting the Agreement, and my 
constituents--mostly underserved and unemployed minorities--will be the 
individuals to bear the brunt of the fight. As the Representative of a 
community that serves in our Nation's military in greater proportion 
than most communities on the mainland, and as a mother of three 
service-age sons, I cannot support this outcome.
  On this anniversary of the attack of September 11, 2001, and our 
nation's subsequent decision to enter war, we see that we must exhaust 
every option before entering war and suffering the casualties of such 
conflicts, which rob us of the most precious resource of our nation; 
our people. The alternative to not supporting the Agreement is not a 
viable option for our nation. We as leaders must work diligently for 
peace in the Middle East, and to ensure we protect the interests of 
Israel, our must trusted ally in the region.
  I believe that President Obama has secured enough votes in the Senate 
to advance the Agreement, and hope we in Washington will now focus on 
efforts towards addressing and improving our long-term infrastructure 
needs, maintaining our social safety net system, alleviating the 
continued inequities in this great country, and uplifting the lives of 
all Americans.

                          ____________________