[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 164 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4874-H4875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            IRAN IS A THREAT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Hill) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, yesterday at the United Nations General 
Assembly meeting, President Biden once again declared that he wants to 
ensure that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on his watch. But he 
reiterated that his administration intends to do everything it can to 
get back into the discredited nuclear deal with Iran.
  Now, Madam Speaker, this was his only reference directly about Iran 
in his remarks.
  Today, I rise to remind my colleagues about the risks of this 
approach. Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism and the 
greatest threat against our ally, Israel, and to stability in the 
Middle East.
  In July, I joined Chairman Meeks and traveled to Israel in the first 
Congressional codel since the new Israeli government has come into 
power.
  Despite the change in power and the coalition between the left and 
right, there is no space between the parties, and the number one 
national security concern in Israel continues to be Iran.
  And while Republicans and Democrats agree in principle that Iran 
should never have a nuclear weapon, in action, the flawed nuclear deal 
of the Obama administration did not end Iran's quest. It only delayed 
modestly the development of a nuclear weapon; development that 
continues, Madam Speaker.
  This deal kicked the can down the road in exchange for a windfall to 
the Iranian mullahs and sanctions relief and pallets of cash delivered 
on a tarmac.
  Further, President Trump's maximum pressure campaign of economic 
sanctions was working, and he took decisive action with his strike 
against former IRGC head, Solemani.
  So, my friends, I am afraid that we will return to the Obama-era 
policy of paying cash for promises from the Iranian leadership that 
will never be kept.
  Iran has blood on their hands, propping up Assad in Syria, the death 
of American troops in Iraq, and recently even blatantly attempting 
kidnapping in New York City.
  As a result, I reintroduced my legislation, the Holding Iranian 
Leaders Accountable Act.
  This bipartisan bill with my friend Mr. Lawson from Florida would 
make public the funds obtained in an illegal or corrupt manner by 
Iran's authoritarian leaders.
  For more than four decades the people of Iran have lived under the 
brutal dictatorship of the Ayatollahs.
  The government leadership and the heads of the Islamic Revolutionary 
Guard Corps have all profited, Madam Speaker, at the expense of the 
struggling Iranian people.
  By combining publicly available information with U.S. intelligence 
that can be made public, this legislation will provide a valuable 
window into the wealth making of Iran's corrupt officials and limit 
their financial holdings which are used to support and sponsor 
terrorism.
  However, since this administration is attempting to re-enter nuclear 
negotiations, we throw away a lot of leverage. This bill gives the U.S. 
Government and Iranian people knowledge by knowing how corrupt their 
leadership is.


                       Commemorating Erma Hendrix

  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Little Rock City 
Director Erma Hendrix, who sadly passed away at the age of 91 on 
September 8.

[[Page H4875]]

  Born and raised in Little Rock, Director Hendrix dedicated her life 
to public service. From serving as a nurse, to local government, to her 
philanthropic endeavors, she always put our community first.
  Erma spent over 15 years representing her community as part of Little 
Rock City's Board of Directors representing Ward 1. Known for her 
passion, she spent her career fighting for racial equality and greater 
representation in city governance.
  I value having the opportunity to work alongside Director Hendrix. I 
am grateful to have known her for so long and so favorably, and I know 
that the city of Little Rock is better for the service and work of 
Director Erma Hendrix. God rest her soul.

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