[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 102 (Thursday, June 15, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S3530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



            Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Bill

  Mr. President, I was proud to support the Countering Iran's 
Destabilizing Activities Act. This is important legislation that I was 
also proud to cosponsor. It will require sanctions on those supporting 
Iran's ballistic missile program and imposes terrorism-related 
sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  For too long, Iran's state sponsorship of terrorism and their 
repeated ballistic missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council 
resolutions have destabilized the Middle East and threatened Israel, 
our strongest ally in the region. Their destabilizing actions are 
fueling the ongoing violence causing widespread humanitarian suffering 
in Yemen. Iran provides weapons and troops that fuel conflicts, and 
Iran's military consistently behaves in an unprofessional manner, 
putting American troops at risk.
  I believe most Iranian citizens want to play a productive role in the 
world. It is their government that is the problem. I believe that 
pressure provided by additional sanctions for destabilizing activity 
can improve the behavior of the Iranian regime, and we must send a 
clear signal to this regime that their actions are simply unacceptable.
  This legislation also provided a vehicle to address another nation's 
leadership whose actions have warranted international condemnation--
Russia. This bill includes an amendment that I supported to enhance 
sanctions on Russia.
  This amendment ensures that sanctions imposed by President Obama are 
codified in law and cannot be removed without congressional review. It 
also imposes new sanctions on Russians who facilitate human rights 
violations, supply weapons to the Syrian Government, conduct cyber 
attacks on behalf of the Russian Government, and do business in the 
Russian intelligence and defense sectors.
  Let me be clear: Russia is not our friend. The Russian Government has 
conducted an information warfare campaign against our own country and 
sought to undermine our democratic process.
  This is not a one-time incident. Russia continues to attempt to 
disrupt democratic institutions and interfere with our allies.
  Congress has supported imposing tough sanctions on Russia, and it is 
important that Congress has an opportunity to review any attempt to 
remove them. I am glad this amendment was adopted on a broadly 
bipartisan basis.
  Finally, I am a cosponsor of an amendment offered by Senator Graham 
that reaffirms the importance of NATO, particularly article 5, the 
collective defense provision, which states that an attack on one is an 
attack on all. Article 5 has been invoked only once, in response to the 
September 11 attacks on the United States. With the inclusion of this 
amendment, the Senate sends a strong, clear signal that the United 
States stands by our commitment to security and stability throughout 
the world, and we always will.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.