[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 57 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E467-E468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ESSAY BY MARSHALL FOSTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2016

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that 
sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice 
to their priorities will

[[Page E468]]

hopefully instill a better sense of the importance of being an active 
participant in the political process. Many of the students have written 
short essays on a variety of topics and I am pleased to share them with 
my House colleagues.
  Marshall Foster attends Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas. The 
essay topic is: Select an important event that has occurred in the past 
year and explain how that event has changed/shaped our country.

       This past year, President Barack Obama signed a nuclear 
     agreement with Iranian leaders and other world leaders that 
     would lift economic sanctions off of Iran in return for 
     Iran's compliance concerning nuclear activities. This deal 
     was put into place under the extremely dangerous mindset that 
     a bad deal is better than no deal. President Obama and his 
     administration have basically written a large check to a 
     corrupt Iranian government, a government that funds and 
     harbors terrorists, in return for their compliance with the 
     rules they are already supposed to be following.
       This agreement severely weakens our great country and 
     empowers Iran. We know that Iran is a radical Islamic state 
     and yet this deal legitimizes Iran's nuclear program. We are 
     now allowing Iran to continue to enrich uranium, after years 
     of insisting they cease. The deal also allows Iran to keep 
     over 6,000 centrifuges, something that will accelerate their 
     capability to enrich the uranium. President Obama's promise 
     that ``if Iran cheats, the world will know it'' is an empty 
     one. Iran has proven time and time again that they have no 
     problem violating agreements when it proves beneficial to 
     them. Our inspections will most likely prove to be too 
     little, too late to stop their illegal activities. In short, 
     the deal provides only limited and unenforceable restraints 
     on Iran's nuclear advancements while at the same time 
     providing them with relief of economic sanctions.
       The world is watching. This deal makes the United States of 
     America, the country who should be viewed as the greatest 
     power in the world, look weak. We have made a deal with a 
     country led by a man who refers to us as ``The Great Satan'' 
     and funds the terrorist groups that call for the destruction 
     of our nation. Iran has continually shown that they do not 
     want to establish peaceful relations with the United States 
     while they are fighting their ``Holy War'' against the West. 
     We are giving power to a country who is by most seen as our 
     most unpredictable and biggest nuclear threat. Our president 
     and his administration have jeopardized the safety of our own 
     country, as well as the safety of our allies. However, when 
     being optimistic, it is possible that this display of 
     weakness shown by the current president will show the 
     American people that we need a stronger and smarter Commander 
     in Chief.

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