Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011

Floor Speech

Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, let's start with what we know:

First, Iran is actively seeking nuclear weapons, and the international community has ratcheted up sanctions to prevent Tehran from getting the bomb.
Second, Iran is attempting to circumvent these sanctions, with Iranian nationals establishing front companies in other countries to get around U.N. restrictions.

Just this year, a grand jury indicted a firm established by Iranians but operating in Istanbul for allegedly procuring materials for Iran's ballistic missile program.
Third, we must be vigilant about companies that deliberately hide their ties to Iran.

But what about companies that don't even try to conceal their Iranian connections?

In October, this Congress passed H.R. 1904, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act. This bill will allow Rio Tinto, a foreign company that does business with Iran, to obtain public land in Arizona so that it can mine for copper here in the United States.

But when Republicans in this chamber had a chance to join Democrats to ensure these business ties between Rio Tinto and Iran were severed as a condition of doing business on our land, every single member of the Republican majority voted no.

With the threat of nuclear weapons landing in the hands of Ahmadinejad, the stakes are simply too high to change the rules when the majority sees fit.

Vote yes on H.R. 1905 today, and we must insist on strong nuclear nonproliferation conditions in H.R. 1904.

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