Lance Calls for End of Filibuster As Senate Skips Iran Deal Debate

Statement

Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today urged U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bypass the filibuster rules and bring a measure against the President's nuclear deal with Iran to the Senate floor.

"Senator McConnell should use his constitutional authority to end the filibuster and allow the Senate to operate by a simple majority vote. The American people deserve to have the Iran nuclear agreement debated and voted on. The Senate minority, led by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, has obstructed any debate from preceding on the Iran deal in order to spare the President any political embarrassment from its likely defeat. This tactic is preventing meaningful debate that the people of the United States expect from their elected representatives -- especially on one of the most consequential matters considered in years. Last week, the House of Representatives spent hours debating numerous resolutions concerning the deal, and the House voted overwhelming against the President's proposal. The American people deserve to also know where their U.S. Senators stand," said Lance, a co-chair of the Republican Israel Caucus.

Lance joined his colleagues in a letter this week to urging changing of the rules. The member's wrote, "We respectfully urge the Senate to modify its rules to a majority vote threshold of 51 senators to approve some legislation. Some pieces of legislation, like the Iran nuclear deal, are simply so consequential that they demand revisions to the Senate's procedures."

This is not unprecedented. Senator Reid changed the rules when he was Majority Leader and bypassed the filibuster over judicial appointments - a matter of considerable less importance than the Iran nuclear agreement.

"The House debated and voted down the deal. The Senate should meet its constitutional obligation and do the same," concluded Lance.

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