No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On October 7, the world watched in horror as Hamas brutally attacked innocent civilians inside Israel, and I am glad to see that we have bipartisan agreement on standing with Israel, standing firm against Hamas.

However, I have major concerns when it comes Iran. Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terror globally, use fanaticism and extremism to stoke instability in the Middle East to expand their influence and threaten the existence of Israel and to threaten the United States. So far dozens and dozens of attacks since October 7 have been carried out at the behest of Iranian proxies in the Middle East toward U.S. troops.

The only currency that is recognized by the Iranian regime is strength, something that the administration has not shown.

This attack, and Israel's valid defense of its sovereignty in the wake of this barbaric invasion, is a wake-up call to the threats Iran- backed terrorist groups pose, not just to the Middle East but also to the rest of the world. This is a watershed moment and it demands a resolute response.

The United States must increase pressure on the Iranian regime by denying it the access to the funds abroad. Deterrence is the name of the game.

In August and September of 2023, the Biden administration facilitated Tehran's access to $6 billion in oil revenues, sanctions that had previously been placed on Iran as a signal of strength, waivers that had been moved by the Biden administration.

As currently written, in H.R. 5961 the only thing that is being frozen is the $6 billion of Iranian funds currently in Qatar. It does not freeze other Iranian-sanctioned funds, such as the sanctions waiver announced by the Biden administration last week which would allow Iraq to send $10 billion to Iran.

The Founders intended us to have a system of checks and balances, and that is exactly what my amendment would do.

My amendment would freeze all Iranian-sanctioned funds, not just the $6 billion in Qatar. Additionally, it would prohibit the President from using any sort of waiver authority, including licenses, guidance, or FAQs to lift the sanctions.

As we have seen, we cannot trust this administration to hold fast, to have a strong deterrent policy, and to send the Iranian regime a strong signal.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), my good friend.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, the failed strategy of appeasement has not worked. Deterrence is what is needed.

President Biden must reverse course on his policy toward Iran to stop terrorism from impacting us here. The system is blinking red.

My amendment strengthens this bill. It puts deterrence at the forefront of the global stage. It restricts any money from going to Iran that they would use to foment terrorism and chaos throughout not only the Middle East but also here in our home.

Mr. Chair, our Homeland Security depends on this amendment and depends on passage of this bill. I urge all of my colleagues across the aisle here on the Republican side to support this amendment and to pass this bill.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source