[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IRAN MONEY FOR HOSTAGES

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, Iran is the single biggest state sponsor of 
terrorism in the world, but that didn't stop the Obama administration 
from providing $1.7 billion in cash, we finally found out, to the 
Iranian Government. This money, along with the $150 billion already in 
sanctions relief that Iran previously received, will likely be used to 
finance acts of terrorism directed at our interests and our allies.
  Many Americans at home are probably wondering why their government 
provided such a large cash payment to a country that sponsors 
terrorism, especially in the dark of night on a big pallet. The Obama 
administration says these payments were connected to an Iranian 
purchase of American airplane parts back in the 1970s.
  Of all the disastrous foreign policy blunders this administration has 
made, this is the hardest one to understand. Paying $1.7 billion in 
cash to one of our adversaries is outrageous, and the fact that these 
payments were used as leverage in order to secure American hostages 
raises serious questions about the administration and the State 
Department's judgment.
  Iran refuses to act like a responsible nation that respects 
international norms and rules. Our government should treat them 
accordingly. That is why I am proud to sponsor Chairman Ed Royce's 
bill, H.R. 5931, which will prohibit all cash payments to Iran.

                          ____________________