[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11616]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, President Obama 
announced that the final framework for a nuclear deal with Iran had 
been reached.
  While I am supportive of a strong deal that would prevent the nuclear 
armament of Iran and thereby easing tensions with our ally Israel, no 
deal is better than a bad deal.
  One provision of particular concern has been the relief of 
congressional sanctions that were implemented years ago. By authorizing 
sanction relief, the Iranian Government will have billions of dollars 
at their disposal to use for the same secretive activities that we have 
grown accustomed to seeing them support.
  As such, hundreds of Members on both sides of the aisle have 
expressed their opposition to a deal that does not appropriately 
address the shortfall of transparency or cooperation that Iran has 
demonstrated repeatedly. Merely threatening them with snapback 
sanctions does not go far enough to institute a level of 
accountability, nor does it prove to be a viable option once sanction 
relief has been in motion.
  Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, I have joined with a significant 
majority of both Democrats and Republicans communicating expectations 
to the President on behalf of the American people for any negotiated 
deal with Iran. I am very concerned these expectations have not been 
met in this announced proposed deal.
  The deal should never provide Iran a pathway to a bomb. This deal 
does not prevent that but, rather, prolongs the time until Iran 
develops nuclear weapons.
  To achieve security and peace, this agreement must be long-lasting. 
Any deal that allows Iran to access conventional weapons in 5 years and 
ballistic missiles in 8 years is anything but long-term, anything but 
peaceful, anything but appropriate.
  Relief of sanctions should be earned by full compliance, access, and 
transparency regarding the Iranian nuclear program. Sanction relief 
loaded up-front is unacceptable. This deal fails that requirement. 
Sanction relief will only provide a financial stimulus to fund the 
world's number one exporter of terrorism--Iran.
  During this 60-day congressional review period, I encourage all of my 
colleagues and the American people to take a very detailed look at this 
agreement and determine whether it is a good deal for America.

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