House Democrats once again stand with Iran deal over national security

House Republicans passed two important pieces of Iran-related legislation this week aimed at keeping money out of the hands of terrorists and stopping further ransom payments to the terror supporting nation. House Democrats opposed these commonsense proposals, once again standing unquestioningly in favor of the disastrous Iran nuclear deal.

• H.R. 5461, the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act, is aimed at preventing top Iranian officials from stockpiling money from sanctions relief, which could then be used to fund terrorism.

o   Earlier this year, Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged that some sanctions relief would likely go to fund terrorism, and indeed a report earlier this month estimated that $37.4 million of a U.S. payment to Iran had already been used to fund terror groups.

• H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act, prohibits the U.S. government from making ransom payments, both directly and indirectly, to Iran, and requires all transactions and payments to the country to be publicly disclosed.

o   The Obama administration recently confirmed that it made a $1.7 billion cash ransom payment to Iran, contrary to the long-held policy of the United States to not pay ransoms.

NRCC COMMENT: “Issues like keeping funding out of the hands of terrorists and upholding our country’s long-standing policy against paying ransoms should not be partisan, but House Democrats refuse to agree to even such commonsense solutions. With their votes on this week’s Iran legislation, House Democrats showed once again that they value party loyalty over our national security.” – NRCC Spokesman Bob Salera

Background:

H.R. 5461 – The Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act

Roll Call 536 – H.R. 5461

H.R. 5931 – The Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act

Roll Call 554 – H.R. 5931

John Kerry: Some sanctions relief money for Iran will go to terrorism. “Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged to CNBC Thursday that some of the money Iran received in sanctions relief would go to groups considered terrorists.” (Elise Labott, CNN, 1/21/16)

Report: Obama Admin Provided Iranian Terror Orgs With $37.4 Million in Cash. “Iran is estimated to have spent at least $37.4 million in recent U.S. cash payments to fund its global terrorism operation, including organizations responsible for the murder of U.S. citizens, according to new research provided to the Washington Free Beacon by analysts.” (Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, 9/14/16)

US payment of $1.7 billion to Iran made entirely in cash. “The $1.7 billion was the settlement of a decades-old arbitration claim between the U.S. and Iran. An initial $400 million of euros, Swiss francs and other foreign currency was delivered on pallets Jan. 17, the same day Tehran agreed to release four American prisoners.” (Richard Lardner, Associated Press, 9/6/16)