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Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 30, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Foreign Affairs

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Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3457, the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act. Iran currently owes $43.5 billion to victims of state-sponsored terrorism. Hundreds of Americans have personally felt the impact of Iranian terrorism. In the last 30 years, Americans studying abroad, teaching or traveling through the Middle East have been taken hostage, killed in suicide bombings and gunned down by members of the Islamic jihad.

The damages owed have been previously awarded by U.S. courts under Federal law, and the judgments remain unsatisfied by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Under the President's Iran deal, sanctions on Iran will be lifted, and an estimated $150 billion in assets will be released to them, and not one single cent will be used to pay the debts owed to the victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism.

H.R. 3457 holds Iran accountable to the victims of its terrorism by ensuring that not one cent of sanction relief goes to Iran until the victims are paid.

I am a proud cosponsor of Mr. Meehan's legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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