[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6055-H6056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IRAN--AMERICA'S GREATEST THREAT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Steil) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address one of the greatest threats 
to American safety--Iran.
  Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and from past 
actions, we know the regime cannot be trusted. However, over the past 4 
years, progress has been made:
  Our maximum pressure campaign and sanctions have reined in Iran's 
power;
  Normalization agreements between Israel and numerous nations in the 
region continue to isolate Iran;
  The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan have embraced peace and 
cooperation.

                              {time}  1100

  At this moment of success, the United States cannot back down. We 
cannot return to one-sided deals that strengthen Iran.
  There is little doubt that without our efforts, Iran will continue 
its pursuit for a nuclear weapon and regional dominance. We must 
maintain pressure on the regime.
  Just last month, the IAEA confirmed what we suspected all along: that 
the Iranian regime continues to ramp up its nuclear program. In fact, 
it is accelerating its efforts. This is not the time to appease the 
Iranian regime. We must stand strong.
  Under the Obama-Biden administration, we saw years of failed foreign 
policy. We saw years of policy that allowed Iran to continue developing 
a nuclear weapon, years of policy that sent pallets of cash to Iran, 
years of policy that neglected our alliance with Israel, and years of 
policy that allowed Iranian terrorism to thrive across the region.
  After the failed Obama-Biden Iran deal was implemented, Iran 
continued perpetuating violence, terrorism, and proxy wars across the 
Middle East. Iran came closer and closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
  President Trump has shown there is another way. We do not need to 
appease terrorist states and turn our backs on Israel. Instead, the 
Trump administration's strength has helped set the conditions for 
regional peace. Cooperation between Israel and other Middle Eastern 
states is continuing to grow. This change of policy has brought hope.
  Peace is possible. But peace does not happen through capitulation, 
and it will not happen if we go backwards.
  It is clear the U.S. sanctions targeting Iran are working. We need to

[[Page H6056]]

maintain our sanctions against Iran and take decisive steps to prevent 
evasion. Sanctions have cut off vital resources that Iran's leaders use 
to enrich themselves and spread terrorism. U.S. financial sanctions 
make it harder for Iran to fund its ambitions to become a nuclear 
power.
  Unfortunately, bad actors work hard to get around United States' 
sanctions. That is why I co-introduced the Preventing Illicit Finance 
Act. This bill supports our maximum pressure campaign and creates a 
public-private group to limit the abuse of the financial system by bad 
actors like Iran. My bill strengthens the United States' ability to 
enforce financial sanctions against Iran, Russia, and other 
adversaries.
  Our maximum pressure campaign is working. We cannot turn a blind eye 
to Iran's aggressions and pursuit of terrorism. Iran must be held 
accountable.
  By strengthening our sanctions enforcement and maintaining our tough 
approach, we can prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

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