Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important bill, and urge my colleagues in the House, as well as the Senate, to enact this legislation into law without delay.

Iran has for decades presented a serious threat to the security of the United States, our allies, the region, and the international community. Its support for terrorism and other belligerent activities has been a particular challenge to the security of Israel and the entire Middle East. Iran's more recent efforts to develop nuclear weapons elevate these security threats, and must be resisted by all the diplomatic and security institutions of the United States. Furthermore, the reports this week that Iran is pursuing technology specific to nuclear weapons should remove any doubts about Iran's intentions with regard to uranium enrichment, and make clear to me that we must contain this threat immediately.

The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act will provide the United States with a new lever against the Iranian regime in order to deter its dangerous behavior. Specifically, this bill would allow the President to impose sanctions on any business or individual that makes an investment that contributes to Iran's ability to develop its petroleum resources or to import petroleum goods. Iran relies on its oil exports to derive income, and must also import 30-40 percent of its gasoline to meet its needs. Sanctions on petroleum development and the fuel needs of Iran will further cripple its economic development--focused primarily on the elite class that is closest to the regime, and help to increase the costs of its threatening activities. These far-reaching sanctions, capturing all those who provide a range of associated support to Iran's petroleum needs, will send an important message to the regime that its nuclear weapons ambitions are unacceptable, and that they will be met with serious consequences.

It is very important that Congress pass this bill quickly in order to provide the President the necessary options and legal remedies to deter Iran. There is a point of no-return with nuclear weapons development, and we must engage all available options to prevent Iran from developing those capabilities. Furthermore, as we have learned with Iran's support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah, should Iran acquire nuclear weapon capabilities, it is all too likely that they will share their weapons and knowledge with any number of dangerous actors. Nuclear weapons proliferation, particularly to non-state actors and those who pose the greatest threats to the security of America, Israel, and other allies, must be stopped at all costs.

At the same time, it is vital that we seek the support of the international community to pressure Iran to stop its nuclear weapons pursuit. We must work with our allies in Europe, as well as with China, Russia, and others to address the threat that a nuclear-armed Iran presents to the world. But international efforts should not be an alternative to the United States pursuing the strongest sanctions options possible against Iran.

It will be very important in the upcoming year that we continue to proceed with both U.S. sanctions, and also international diplomatic efforts and sanctions to prevent Iran from proceeding with its dangerous and insular nuclear weapons ambitions. Iran must not be allowed to become a nuclear weapons state, and we must pursue all available options to prevent that from occurring. It is essential to that goal that we pass the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act.

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