Mack Votes to Strengthen Iran Sanctions

Press Release

Today Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Connie Mack (FL-14) voted in a bipartisan manner to update, expand and strengthen the force of sanctions on Iran and begin to address the profound crimes against humanity perpetrated by Syria against its citizens. The Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, H.R. 1905, passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 421-6.

Mack stated: "We must act to defend against and circumvent those countries that threaten the freedom, security and prosperity of Americans, our allies and their own freedom seeking citizens. Today's vote will tighten sanctions against Iran while targeting thugocrats around the world, like Hugo Chavez, who are helping Iran evade those sanctions and bolstering the Syrian regime's ability to murder its people."

The Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 represents the strongest set of sanctions against any country to date. This legislation strengthens energy and financial sanctions and will close loopholes that the Iran regime has exploited. From shipping gasoline to Iran to the Venezuelan-Iranian Development Bank sanctioned by the Department of the Treasury, Venezuela has been a direct violator of Iran sanctions laws. Mack has long championed stronger sanctions against against the Iranian regime, and provided the documentation to the Department of State that led to Venezuela's state owned oil company being sanctioned under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act for shipping gasoline to Iran. Venezuela has also sent multiple tankers of diesel fuel to Syria, effectively propping up the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

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