BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman, and I thank my friend, the ranking member.
I have to oppose the amendment of my friend from Kansas. I oppose the amendment not because of what my friend is trying to accomplish, but because of the way that we are trying to do it.
I proudly represent Bob Levinson, who went missing on March 9, 2007. He is the longest held American in history. We have worked tirelessly in this House--working with my friend, the sponsor of this amendment; Mr. Royce, the chairman of the committee; and Mr. Engel, the ranking member, we have worked in a strong, bipartisan way, all of us together, to bring Bob home.
By amending this legislation--which I explained last week in our committee hearing why I opposed, just as the ranking member did today, because of the risks that the underlying bill causes in violating our legal obligations under the Algiers Accords that has yielded over $2.5 billion for American claimants and prohibiting settlement of claims until certification, that requirement that could prevent the U.S. from reaching settlement. This is a piece of legislation that we oppose. The goal is to continue to ensure that everything we do in focusing on bringing Bob home is done in a way that can pass with overwhelming support.
So, unfortunately, I have to oppose my good friend's amendment. But I want to thank him for the effort of focusing attention, again, on American citizens who continue to be held in Iran.
Eight months ago we were told when Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Jason Rezaian finally were able to return home to their families and that the Iranians agreed to continue cooperating with the United States to determine the whereabouts of Robert Levinson. It is 8 months later, and Bob Levinson is not home with his family in Coral Springs, Florida.
I look forward to working with my friend from Kansas and I look forward to working with every Member of this House and all of us in this country who understand that as long as there are Americans being held and as long as Bob Levinson, the longest held American in history, continues to be missing in Iran that this House of Representatives will not rest, and that we will continue to pay attention and work together to find ways to maximize our efforts to bring him home through whatever pressure is necessary. It is intolerable that we have to come to the floor over and over and over again as this poor family continues to wait for the return of their father and grandfather.
I thank my friend for helping to raise this issue. I, unfortunately, have to oppose the amendment for the reasons that I have stated. But I look forward to working together with my friend from Kansas, Democrats, Republicans, and all of the people of goodwill in this House and in this country until we bring him home.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend, Mr. Engel.
Mr. Chairman, the goal here tonight, I think, is to both simultaneously ensure that we don't take any action that would make it difficult for Americans to bring claims to the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal that would enhance our ability to continue with our legal obligations under the Algiers Accords but that will also focus on the very specific problem that we have at hand.
Mr. Engel's substitute amendment, I think, will permit us to do all of that. It carries over the provision from the underlying bill that requires reporting to Congress on claims settlements and payments to Iran, it enhances our ability to be aware of and to have greater disability of transfer of funds to Iran going forward, and it ensures that Congress will be able to keep in sharp focus before any of those transfers happen so that we can then act accordingly.
And I would just remind everyone that we have really done meaningful work in the House under the leadership of the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce, and the ranking member, Mr. Engel. We have done meaningful work because we have been able to work together to take on the threats posed by Iran.
It is because of the work, the bipartisan effort, the work that has been done together that Iran faced unprecedented economic sanctions. And it is because of the work, again, that has been done in a bipartisan way that members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, who direct the funding of terror and commit egregious human rights violations, continue to remain sanctioned. And it is because of the efforts of Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel that banks continue to be weary of dealing with Iran, and Iran is still fully unable to access the international financial market in U.S. dollars.
So there are plenty of examples of the good work that we have done together. When we work together on these issues of critical importance, the country is stronger and safer. I think Mr. Engel's amendment will provide us the opportunity to go forward in a bipartisan way in a manner that, again, will help the United States be stronger and safer. I know that is everyone's goal, both on the Foreign Affairs Committee and in the House. That is why I support the amendment, and that is why I urge my colleagues to also support it.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT