Iran Sanctions Extension Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my continued support for the critical nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) forged to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I believe that agreement remains the best option to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is a bipartisan priority, which is why the U.S. must uphold the commitments we made under that deal. According to the evidence before me, Iran has largely fulfilled its obligations including limiting its stockpile of uranium, drastically reducing its operating centrifuges, and removed the core of its Arak reactor.
While not perfect, this is one of the most stringent non- proliferation agreements ever negotiated and includes tough verification requirements. The JCPOA has led to real on the ground progress in restricting Iran's nuclear program, something that our nation never achieved even under the most biting sanctions.
Despite any limitations, the agreement is working as intended in the face of many skeptics and naysayers. And we all have a shared interest in helping to continue to foster the fertile ground necessary to support its continued implementation and compliance by both parties.
So I will support a ``clean'' reauthorization of the Iran Sanctions Act authorities even though the President has made clear he has authority under other federal laws (that do not expire) to snap back some sanctions even in the absence of this law. Critically, this bill does not put new obstacles in the way of the U.S. upholding its commitments but intends to essentially reassert the existing status quo. This is unlike other legislation we will consider this week that more directly impact our commitments under the JCPOA.
The stakes at play here are very high for our nation and our regional allies including Israel. So rather than wasting time trying to undermine it, we all must continue to work to ensure the long term success of this deal and the goal we all share of keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
We used sanctions to bring Iran to the table, worked with our international partners to secure a strong deal, and now more than ever need to make sure we uphold our end of the bargain.
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