Prohibiting Ransom Payments to Iran

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5931, legislation prohibiting future ransom payments to Iran.

In the midst of a global war on terror, it should be common sense that the United States of America should not be sending untraceable pallets of cash on an airplane to the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Apparently it isn't, though, because that is exactly what happened and what this administration engaged in.

We know now that $1.7 billion in cash was given to Iran in exchange for the release of prisoners, violating America's longstanding policy against ransom payments.

Predictably, this administration has admitted that it cannot guarantee that this money did not go to fund current or future terrorism by Iran. In addition, all of this was done in secret, lacking transparency with the American people.

Today the House is taking action to end this practice. H.R. 5931 prohibits any cash payments to Iran regardless of the rationale or reasoning behind it. It also ensures the American people will be notified if a President ever attempts this sort of deal again.

America cannot be a country that sends cash to countries that fund terrorism. Period.

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