Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived
1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
(MORE $$/WEAPONS FOR ISRAEL, CUZ…IRAN) HR
4017: Introduced 10/11 by Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mast (R-FL), “To authorize the President to take
actions to ensure Israel is prepared for all contingencies if Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon after
expiration of certain provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and for other purposes.” Referred
to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
(IRAN PROXY FORCES – REPORT) HR
4012: Introduced 10/11 by Schneider (D-IL) and 12 bipartisan cosponsors, “To require a National
Intelligence Estimate on Iranian proxy forces, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on
Intelligence (Permanent Select), and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
(AMCITS HELD BY IRAN) S.
Res. 245: Introduced 8/3 by Cruz (R-TX) and Leahy (D-VT), and having 6 cosponsors (bipartisan), “A
resolution calling on the Government of Iran to release unjustly detained United States citizens and legal
permanent resident aliens, and for other purposes.” On 10/5, the SFRC ordered the measure to be reported
without amendment favorably. Cruz-Leahy press release is here.
(WAR POWERS ACT -YEMEN) H.
Con. Res. 81: Introduced 9/27 by Khanna (D-CA) and having 27 cosponsors, “Directing the President
pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized
hostilities in the Republic of Yemen.” On 10/11, Collins (R-GA) asked unanimous consent that the provisions of
section 7 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1546) shall apply to H.Con.Res. 81 not earlier than November 2,
2017, but on the same terms that would have adhered on October 13, 2017. Agreed to without objection.
(SANCTIONS ON HIZBALLAH) S.
1595: Introduced 7/20 by Rubio (R-FL) and Shaheen (D-NH), and having 36 cosponsors “To amend the
Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 to impose additional sanctions with respect to Hizballah,
and for other purposes,” aka, the “Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of
2017.” Passed by the Senate 10/5 by Unanimous Consent. Rubio press release is here.
Other press releases: Hoeven
(R-ND); Heitkamp
(D-ND).
Letters
(RELEASE INFO ABOUT BOEING DEAL WITH IRAN) Cotton-Roskam
letter: On 10/6, Sen. Cotton (R-AR) and Rep. Roskam (R-IL) sent a letter to Attorney General Sessions
urging him to allow a U.S. court to compel Boeing to release information about its recent deal with Iran in the
context of a case related to compensating victims of Iran-backed terror. Cruz’s press release, entitled “Cotton,
Roskam Urge Transparency in Court for Victims of Iranian Terrorism” is here.
Roskam’s press release, entitled “Roskam, Cotton Urge Full Disclosure of Boeing-Iran Air Deal Details,” is here.
Roskam
has been attacking/trying to block Boeing’s deal with Iran since it was announced.
(RECERTIFY JCPOA) Price-Deutch
letter: On 10/4, Reps. Price (D-NC) and Deutch (D-FL) sent a letter, signed by more than 180 House
members (including all House Democratic leaders), to President Trump, urging him to recertify Iran’s compliance
with the JCPOA. Price-Deutch press release is here.
Press releases from signers: Doggett
(D-TX), Beyer
(D-VA), Sablan
(D-MP-at large).
(DON’T CUT OR DELAY AID TO EGYPT) King
et al letter: On 9/28, Rep. King (R-IA) and 4 GOP colleagues sent a letter to SecState Tillerson
expressing “grave concerns” about the Administration’s decision to cut $95.7 million, and to delay $195 million, in
aid to Egypt. 10/2 press release is here.
2. Hearings
10/12:
The House Foreign Affairs Committee held markup on HR
1698, the “Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act.” Chairman
Royce (R-CA) offered an amendment in the nature of substitute (text here),
which was adopted by the committee by Voice Vote without objection. Video of the markup is here.
10/11:
The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled “Confronting the Full Range of Iranian
Threats.” Witnesses were: James Jeffrey, WINEP [statement];
Gen. (ret.) Charles Wald, JINSA [statement];
David Albright, ISIS [statement];
and Jake Sullivan, Carnegie [statement].
Chairman Royce’s (D-CA) opening statement is here. Ranking member Engel’s (D-NY) opening statement
is here.
Video of the hearing is here.
10/4 Hearing notice is here.
Fitzpatrick (R-PA) statement is here.
Zeldin (R-NY) press release (touting his question of former Obama official Jake Sullivan) is here.
10/11:
The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa held a hearing entitled,
“U.S. Policy Toward Lebanon.” Witnesses were Michael Ratney
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs [statement];
and Jeanne Pryor
Acting Deputy Assistant USAID for the Middle East [statement].
Video of the hearing is here.
Chair Ros-Lehtinen’s (R-FL) opening statement is here.
10/4:
The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing
entitled, “Iranian Backed Militias: Destabilizing the Middle East.” Witnesses were: Michael
Knights, WINEP [statement];
Aram Nerguizian, CSIS [statement];
Kenneth Pollack, AEI [statement];
and Melissa Dalton, CSIS [statement].
Chairman “And-that’s-just-the-way-it-is” Poe’sb(R-TX) opening statement is here.
Video of the hearing is here.
10/3:
The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International
Organizations held a hearing entitled, “Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and
Accountability.” Witnesses were former US Rep. Frank Wolf [statement];
Shireen, a Yazidi Survivor of ISIS Enslavement [statement];
Stephen Rasche, Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil [statement];
and Lauren Ashburn, Eternal Word Television Network (global Catholic TV) [statement].
Video of the hearing is here.
3. On the Record
Costa
(D-CA) 10/11: Floor statement – “Recertify Iran Nuclear Deal”
Franks
(R-AZ) 10/11: The Bullying of the Kurds Will Not Go Unanswered
Zeldin
(R-NY) 10/10: Rep. Zeldin Calls on Administration to Not Recertify the Iran Nuclear Deal
Schumer
(D-NY) 10/10: Schumer Calls For U.S. Embassy In Israel To Be Moved To Jerusalem; Senator Says We Have Waited
Too Long; Urges Action To Make Clear The U.S. Commitment To Move Embassy
Carper
(D-DE) 10/10: Carper Urges Trump to Recertify Iran Nuclear Deal
Coons
(D-DE) 10/10: Sen. Coons’ statement on Iran nuclear agreement, reports that Trump admin will ‘de-certify’
Cheney
(R-WY) 10/6: Newsletter piece on JCPOA (“I believe every member of congress will be responsible for
ensuring we don't perpetuate this terrible deal in its current form.”)
Price
(D-NC) 10/6: Statement on Reports that President Trump Plans to ‘Decertify’ Iran Nuclear Deal
Cotton
(R-AR) 10/6: Cotton Statement on Potential Sale of THAAD System to Saudi Arabia [short version: YIPPEE!]
De
Santis (R-FL) 10/6: DeSantis Lauds Reports President Trump Will Designate the IRGC as a Terrorist Group
Feinstein
(D-CA) 10/5: Feinstein to Trump: Don’t Abandon Iran Nuclear Agreement
Van
Hollen (D-MD) 10/5: Floor statement in support of Iran nuclear agreement (excerpt: “The Iran deal is
working. It has verifiably shut off Iran's pathways to a nuclear bomb, imposed tough constraints on Iran's nuclear
program, and subjected Iran to the most comprehensive inspection and monitoring regime ever negotiated. How do we
know? We know from Donald Trump himself…”)
Warren
(D-MA) 10/5: Statement from Senator Warren on Iran Nuclear Agreement
Crowley
(D-NY) 10/5: Chairman Crowley Statement on Reports that President Trump May Decertify Iran Deal (“If these
reports are accurate, this would be an irresponsible and unnecessary decision by the president.”)
Lee
(D-CA) 10/5: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Urges President Trump to Recertify Iran Deal
Cardin
(D-MD) 10/4: Cardin Calls on Trump Not to Violate Iran Nuclear Deal
Schakowsky
(D-IL) 10/4: Schakowsky Calls on President Trump to Recertify Iran Nuclear Agreement
Cotton
(R-AR) 10/3: Cotton Calls for Decertifying the Iran Deal
Reed
(D-RI) 10/3: Reed Joins Sec. Mattis & Gen. Dunford in Urging Adherence to the Iran Nuclear Agreement
Gallego
(D-AZ) 10/3: In response to questioning from Rep. Ruben Gallego, Defense Secretary James Mattis Confirms that
Iran is Complying with Nuclear Deal
Cruz (R-TX) 10/3: Address to ACT for America National Security Legislative Briefing on threats to
US national security (top threat: Muslim Brotherhood)
Boyle
(D-PA) 10/2: Boyle Advances Amendment to Sanction Russian Support of Hezbollah