Following Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, the House of Representatives passed several pieces of legislation to hold Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable. Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Following Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, the House of Representatives passed several pieces of legislation to hold Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable. Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement:
“The Biden administration’s strategy of appeasement toward Iran has failed,” said Congressman Valadao. “President Biden freed up $6 billion in Iranian assets last year, which only served to embolden the Iranian regime and their terrorist proxies who wish to do us harm. I voted in support of several bills this week to sanction Iran, designate their proxies as foreign terrorist organizations, and give Congress greater oversight of any administration that tries to weaken sanctions on Iran. We must send a clear message that there will be consequences for attacking American allies.”
The Biden administration has taken several actions that have emboldened Iran, including waiving sanctions to allow $6 billion in Iranian funds to be transferred back to Qatar September of 2023.
Congressman Valadao voted in support of the following bills this week:
H.R. 6245, Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act of 2023: Requires the Department of the Treasury to provide a report to Congress on the finances of Iranian leadership as well as require financial institutions to close accounts connected to these individuals.
H.R. 6015, Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023: Requires the President to issue regulations to ensure that humanitarian exemptions involving Iran sanctions do not facilitate acts of international terrorism or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
H.R. 5921, The No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023: Stems resources available to Iran by prohibiting the Treasury from issuing any licenses authorizing a U.S. financial institution to engage in transactions for trade with Iran, other than humanitarian aid benefiting Iranian citizens.
H.R. 3033, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act: Extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (ISA). The ISA forms the core of U.S. statutory sanctions against Iran and is currently set to expire at the end of 2026.
H.R. 6323, the Iran Counterterrorism Act: Requires Iran to cease support for acts of international terrorism as a condition for the President to wave secondary sanctions and provides for a congressional review process for national security interest waivers of these sanctions.