[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 57 (Thursday, March 31, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4017-H4018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AMERICA'S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, when the Biden administration learned Iran 
was just weeks away from enriching enough uranium for a weapon, this 
administration's response was to rush to a deal to

[[Page H4018]]

slow but not stop Iran's nuclear ambitions. This is so.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact is, no deal will include concrete guarantees 
that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons. Yet, in pursuit of a deal, 
the Biden administration is offering concessions that will enrich our 
adversaries, endanger our allies, and cost America dearly.
  The whole new deal now hinges on delisting the Islamic Revolutionary 
Guard--yes, that terrorist organization--even as the IRGC supported 
attacks against U.S. troops recently in the UAE.
  Mr. Speaker, sanctions relief will give Iran access to over $100 
billion in frozen assets. That is over $100 billion in frozen assets to 
the center of terrorism in the world. Nuclear trade, in addition, with 
Russia and China will only strengthen this unholy alliance.
  What can our allies expect from an Iran enriched from energy sales 
and free from sanctions? Even worse, President Biden is seeking to buy 
oil from Iran instead of ramping up U.S. production. This disastrous 
decision, irrational decision, will fill their coffers even more.
  We have wrecked our U.S. national and economic security, Mr. Speaker, 
by forfeiting our energy over the last 15 months and our independence. 
We are now subject to the fluctuations from the randomness of the 
geopolitical events rather than relying upon American workers and 
American energy.
  We have cost our Nation thousands of jobs and empowered our enemies. 
We are seeing this firsthand with the leverage we have ceded to Russia 
because this administration seeks to decimate U.S. energy production.
  The Department of Energy is taking trips and seeking oil purchases 
from Venezuela. Mr. Speaker, I have not seen Department of Energy 
representatives in Pennsylvania to see how the great reserves in the 
Marcellus Shale can support our country's energy needs.
  Is the Biden administration choosing Venezuela over Pennsylvania? Are 
they choosing Tehran over Texas? And as my good friend, Representative 
August Pfluger, branded not too long ago: Are they choosing Moscow over 
Midland?
  This is the product of disastrous domestic policies weakening our 
hand in diplomacy and the Biden administration rushing to negotiate 
from a position of weakness. It is why our allies are urging us to walk 
away and keep sanctions in place on Iran.
  This deal was misguided 7 years ago. It is downright dangerous today. 
We need Democrats and Republicans in this House to stand up for America 
and against this erroneous, misguided, senseless Iran nuke deal.

                          ____________________