U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross (R-FL-15), Senior Deputy Majority Whip, made the following statement today after voting to pass H.R. 5631, to hold Iran accountable for its state sponsorship of terrorism and other threatening activities and for its human rights abuses, and for other purposes:
"Today marks one year since the disastrous and dangerous Iran Nuclear Deal was reached by Iran and President Obama. This deal was touted as a way to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but the president should have known that the largest state sponsor of terrorism would continue its mission to wipe Israel off the map and bring "death to America.'
"I voted to pass H.R. 5631 today because Iran must be held accountable for its continued illegal development of its nuclear weapon program, its support for international terrorism, and its ongoing record of human rights abuses against its own people. After the Iran Nuclear Deal went into effect, this administration has systematically failed to hold Iran accountable for its repeated illegal, dangerous and repressive behavior despite assurances to the contrary by numerous administration officials in testimony before Congress.
"Under this legislation, the U.S. will continue to use sanctions to punish Iran for its illicit behavior and to discourage financial institutions and entities from engaging in business and commerce with Iran. The bill further expands the list of individuals that can be sanctioned for supporting human rights abuses and acts of violence on behalf of the Iranian government, as well as requires the president to impose terrorism-related sanctions on the Iranian government and foreign individuals and entities that conduct business with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"For more than 36 years, Iran has proudly expressed its hatred for America, and, yet, our president believed it was wise to negotiate away national and worldwide security in order to advance his personal political legacy. I will continue to do all within my power to fight against the implementation of this dangerous deal and to hold the president and Iran accountable for putting our nation and our allies across the globe in harm's way."