Pence Appointed To Conference Committee On Iran Sanctions Bill

Statement

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence issued the following statement upon being named a House conferee to participate in House-Senate conference committee negotiations on H.R. 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2009.

"The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is the most pressing proliferation threat the world faces today. The nuclear aspirations of this regime represent a clear danger to American national security and an existential threat to our most cherished ally, Israel.

"I look forward to working in a bipartisan, bicameral way to negotiate final language on a tough sanctions bill that we can send to the President. As demonstrated by more than 360 members of the House who joined me and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. in sending a letter to the President recently, it is the will of this Congress and of the American people that he sign the bill we will send him and impose punishing sanctions on the regime in Tehran.

"For too long, Iran has defied the world community by continuing to pursue weapons of mass destruction and to support terrorism. These actions threaten global peace and security and the United States must act decisively on the world stage to deny Tehran of their nuclear aspirations. Now is the time to impose meaningful sanctions on the government of Iran."

Background:

H.R. 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act would take practical steps against Iran's ability to refine petroleum products. Although Iran is an oil producing nation, it lacks the capacity to refine petroleum for its own domestic use. These sanctions target companies investing in Iran's petroleum sector, and companies or entities which provide Iran with technologies necessary to improve their own refining capabilities.

The House passed H.R. 2194 on December 15, 2009 and a Senate version was agreed to on March 11, 2010. The Motion to Go to Conference formed a Committee of Members of the House and Senate tasked with resolving the differences between the two versions of this legislation before final, compromise legislation can be passed by both chambers and presented to the President for his signature.

Congressman Pence and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) recently sent a letter to President Obama urging him to sign the bill and impose "crippling sanctions on Iran."

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