[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IRAN NUCLEAR AGREEMENT REVIEW ACT

  Mr. REID. Madam President, every Member of this body wants to keep 
Iran from getting a nuclear weapon--everyone--Democrats, Republicans, 
and Independents. But I have to say, a number of my Republican friends 
have shown an unusual way of showing this. The chairman and ranking 
member of the Foreign Relations Committee worked to find a middle 
ground on this bill that satisfies congressional Democrats, 
Republicans, and the administration. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was a 
long and difficult process. That bill came out of the committee 19 to 
0. But these two good men, the junior Senator from Maryland and the 
junior Senator from Tennessee, were able to strike a delicate balance 
that allows Congress to vote on a final Iran agreement. They were able 
to build a consensus along the way.
  The Corker-Cardin bill was reported out of committee unanimously. Yet 
before this compromise even came to the floor, certain Senate 
Republicans were determined to destroy it. A number of Senate 
Republicans are prioritizing Presidential politics over national 
security. Others are simply trying to undermine President Obama.
  For example, the junior Senator from Arkansas has been on record for 
months stating his desire to see this negotiation fail. Back in 
January, before there was a framework of an agreement, he said the 
following about the ongoing negotiations to stop Iran from getting a 
nuclear weapon:

       The end of these negotiations isn't an unintended 
     consequence of congressional action. It is very much an 
     intended consequence.

  It is there what he said, just as clear as day. The junior Senator 
from Arkansas and other Republicans want to see any potential agreement 
with Iran crash and burn, even before we know what is in the final 
agreement.
  Some Republicans have proposed poison pills--poison pill after poison 
pill--to what was a noble compromise between the leaders of the Foreign 
Relations Committee. Republicans have proposed 67 amendments as of 
right now. If they could, they would offer more. Democrats, on the 
other hand, do not want to upset this delicate balance. We have offered 
no amendments. Instead, we have striven to preserve the Corker-Cardin 
bill.
  The difference, as usual, is that Democrats want to be constructive 
and Republicans continue to want to be destructive. Democrats want to 
pass this bipartisan bill right now, even as the junior Senators from 
Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and others work to ruin it.
  The Senate has already voted on two poisonous amendments, and we will 
vote on more if we have to, but we don't have to. It is not necessary. 
It is now clear opponents of the bill aren't interested in being 
reasonable. The opponents of the Corker-Cardin legislation aren't 
concerned with finding a middle ground. That is why the majority leader 
should file cloture now to preserve this legislation. Destructive 
Members within his own party have forced his hand.
  I support the majority leader in taking this step because it is the 
only path forward to passing this meritorious legislation. The 
exemplary work done by the chairman and ranking member of the Foreign 
Relations Committee is too important to be undone by Senators who are 
putting politics before national and global security.
  Mr. REID. Would the Chair announce the business of the day.

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