Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1800, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025. For nearly 30 years, Congress and the executive branch have utilized the Iran Sanctions Act, or ISA, to constrict Iran's energy sector, denying the Iranian regime needed funds to grow its nefarious nuclear program and carry out state-sponsored terror activities.

Originally passed into law in 1996, the ISA has been the key statutory element undergirding our sanctions infrastructure against Iran. The ISA provides secondary sanctions authority to hold third- party firms accountable for their investments in Iran, as well.

Since 1996, Congress has built upon this legislation multiple times and has expanded the list of transactions that are considered violations of the ISA.

These sanctions, combined with additional sanctions on Iran's financial system and petroleum transactions, as well as aggressive American diplomacy, are what drove Iran to the negotiation table to finalize the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015, a deal that effectively prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon before it was torn up by President Trump in 2018.

Today, Iran is closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon than ever before. The Iranian regime, through its backing of terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, continues to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East.

We must ask ourselves: Under what circumstances can Congress envision abandoning our sanctions infrastructure while this Iranian regime is in power? What indications have we had since 1996 that this regime is interested in changing its nature and becoming a productive and peaceful member of the international community?

While it is exceedingly rare that Congress should waive sunsets, and I would support an extended authorization, the failure of Iran to change for decades speaks for itself.

The ISA is the only major Iran sanctions statute that contains a sunset provision. In general, sunset provisions have value, forcing Congress to reevaluate and reconsider sanctions to adjust to new situations. However, even in the instance a new Iran deal is reached and successfully implemented, I believe we would want this sanctions infrastructure still in place, just as it was under the JCPOA, so that Iran and the international community know what awaits them if progress is not made or promises are not kept.

Repealing the sunset provision of the ISA is also an issue of checks and balances. Losing congressional authority of this critical sanctions infrastructure would effectively cede more authority to the executive branch, which has already proven to be more than willing to act unilaterally and without congressional oversight in carrying out executive actions.

Passing the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 would send an important message about Congress' role in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy toward Iran and, in sum, serves American national security interests.

Mr. Speaker, this bill sends a clear signal that the United States will continue to use every tool at its disposal necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, deter it from carrying out state- sponsored terrorist activities, and defend American interests and that of our allies and partners in the Middle East.

Preserving Congress' ability to ensure sanctions against Iran is critical to maintaining congressional sanction authorities and protecting U.S. national security.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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