Suspension of Authority to Waive, Suspend, Reduce, Provie Relief From, or Otherwise Limit the Application of Sanctions Pursuant to an Agreement Related to the Nuclear Program of Iran
Floor Speech
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Mr. ROSKAM. I thank Chairman Ryan.
Mr. Speaker, the Democratic leader just recalled the invocation, that of invoking God's presence, and she said that we had prayed for wisdom, and she called us to act humbly.
So the question is: Are we willing to submit ourselves to the collective wisdom of a majority of this body and to a majority of the other body? I would suggest a majority of this body and a majority of the other body think this is a bad idea.
She also admonished us that we should listen and learn. It is not a bad idea, so let's listen to what is in the bill, itself. The bill, itself, gives $150 billion in sanctions relief to the Iranian Government.
The question is: What do we expect with $150 billion? Is it all going to go to pave roads? Is it going to go to build schools in Tehran? Is it going to fix water systems? I do not think so, and neither does President Obama. Listen to his own words.
This is Barack Obama:
Let's stipulate that some of the money will flow to activities that we object to. We have no illusions about the Iranian Government or the significance of the Revolutionary Guard.
Listen to National Security Adviser Susan Rice when she says:
We should expect that some portion of that money would go to the Iranian military and could potentially be used for all kinds of bad behavior that we have seen in the region up until now.
Let's listen to those words. They are clear. They are obvious.
So now think in terms of percentages of $150 billion. Is it going to be half? Is it going to be a quarter? Is it going to be 10 percent? Is it going to be 1 percent--1 percent of that money--$1.5 billion? Doing what--funding Hamas? funding Hezbollah? killing Americans? Let's listen and let's learn.
Now, my friend from New York said this is definitely the policy of the United States. Definitely. It is a fait accompli. There is really no reason to have this debate and this discussion. It is all over according to his world view. I don't buy it. I don't buy that for a second. I am not going to lay down here and let the President of the United States run roughshod in his probably--let's think about it. Is this just a bad idea, or is this the worst bill ever? the worst idea ever? I think it wins the ``worst idea ever'' award.
Mr. Speaker, it was a week ago when it was crazy talk as to the idea that the President of the United States had standing, and it was crazy talk a week ago that the House of Representatives had standing in the courts. Now, do you know what the courts have said? The House has standing.
So, as to the notion that this is all done and that this is just a settled case, it is not. I think we have got to be very, very clear about what is going on, and we need to listen, and we need to learn, and we need to vote ``no.''
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