Iran nuclear agreement: Legislation
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The P5+1 or the E3/EU+3, which includes the United States, United Kingdom, China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, and the European Union, reached an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the development of its nuclear program on July 14, 2015.[1] The agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), placed limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief.[2] Legislation introduced by Congress regarding the nuclear agreement and sanctions on Iran is summarized below.
Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) introduced S 615 - the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 on February 27, 2015. On March 2, 2015, Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) introduced HR 1191 - A bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran's nuclear program, and for other purposes, which is also cited as the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. The House unanimously approved HR 1191 on March 17, 2015.[3] The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 98-1 on May 7, 2015. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton (R) cast the only vote against the bill. The House approved Senate amendments to HR 1191 by a vote of 400-25 on May 14, 2015.[4] The legislation included:
- Requiring the president to review Iran's compliance with the terms of the agreement and demonstrate that "Iran has not taken any action that could significantly advance its nuclear weapons program" and "has not directly supported or carried out an act of terrorism against the United States or a U.S. person."
- Requiring the president to submit the text of an agreement with Iran not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement;
- Requiring the secretary of state to submit a verification assessment report notifying Congress of Iran's compliance or noncompliance with their obligations under an agreement;
- Prohibiting the president from lifting sanctions on Iran during the 60-day review period; and
- Requiring the president to keep congressional leadership informed of all aspects of Iranian compliance with respect to an agreement and submit regular compliance reports.
Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduced S 269 - the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015 on January 27, 2015. The legislation proposed placing economic sanctions on Iran if a nuclear deal was not reached by the stated deadline of June 30, 2015.[5] The legislation proposed the following:
- Requiring President Obama to submit the text of the agreement to Congress within five days after reaching a nuclear deal;
- Providing Congress 30 days to review any deal made with Iran and prohibiting President Obama from taking any actions on the agreement during the review period;
- Reinstating any sanctions on Iran that were waived during the negotiations if a final agreement was not reached by July 6, 2015.
Disapproving of the agreement transmitted to Congress by the President on July 19, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran
On August 4, 2015, Rep. Edward Royce (R-Calif.) introduced HJ Res 64 - Disapproving of the agreement transmitted to Congress by the President on July 19, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran. The resolution "States that Congress does not favor the nuclear agreement with Iran (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) transmitted by the President to Congress on July 19, 2015, for purposes of prohibiting the taking of any action involving statutory sanctions relief by the United States pursuant to such agreement."[6]
Raising a question of the privileges of the House of Representatives
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) introduced H Res _ - Raising a question of the privileges of the House of Representatives on September 8, 2015. The legislation reaffirmed the right to review all materials related to the Iran nuclear deal and directed Congress to not recognize the congressional review period until two side agreements between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran were presented.[7]
Roskam said that the House should postpone voting on the Iran nuclear deal because President Obama failed to meet the requirements of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. Obama submitted the deal to Congress on July 20, 2015, but he did not submit two agreements negotiated between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act stated that "Not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement with Iran relating to the nuclear program of Iran, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership—(A) the agreement, as defined in subsection (h)(1), including all related materials and annexes." Roskam said that because these side agreements, which he considered related materials, were not made available for congressional review, the 60-day review period had not officially begun.[8]
Iran Nuclear Agreement Resolution of Disapproval
On September 8, 2015, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) proposed S.Amdt.2640 to H.J.Res.61 - The Hire More Heroes Act of 2015, which was the vehicle used by the Senate to propose a disapproval of the Iran nuclear agreement. Senate Democrats filibustered the measure three times.[9] Sixty votes were needed to proceed to a vote to disapprove of the nuclear deal. On September 10, the measure failed by a vote of 58-42. On September 15 and September 17, it failed by a vote of 56-42.[10][11][12]
Finding that the President has not complied with section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015
On September 9, 2015, Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) and Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) introduced H Res 411 - Finding that the President has not complied with section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 required the president to submit all materials related to the nuclear agreement. According to Pompeo's website, "To date, Congress still has not received from the President the verification agreements entered into between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran. The President cannot waive statutory sanctions implementing the deal until after the review period concludes."[13] On September 10, 2015, the House passed H Res 411 by a vote of 245-186. The vote followed party lines.[14]
To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran
On September 9, 2015, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) introduced HR 3461 - To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran. The bill proposed approving the nuclear agreement with Iran. The House voted against HR 3461 by a vote of 162-269 on September 11, 2015.[15][16]
On September 9, 2015, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) introduced HR 3460 - To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran. The bill proposed prohibiting "the President, prior to January 21, 2017, from: limiting the application of specified sanctions on Iran or refraining from applying any such sanctions; or removing a foreign person (including entities) listed in Attachments 3 or 4 to Annex II of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) from the list of designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury."[17] On September 11, 2015, the House approved HR 3460 by a vote of 247-186.[18]
Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act
On September 9, 2015, Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) introduced HR 3457 - the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act. The legislation proposes prohibiting the administration from lifting sanctions on Iran until the Iranian government pays damages to the victims of terrorism.[19] According to the Congressional Research Service, "Iran owes about $43.5 billion in outstanding damages."[20] The bill passed the House on October 1, 2015, by a vote of 251-173.[21]
Prohibiting the president from lifting sanctions on Iran
On September 15, 2015, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) proposed S.Amdt.2656 to S.Amdt.2640. The amendment proposed prohibiting "the President from waiving, suspending, reducing, providing relief from, or otherwise limiting the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran."[22] Senate Democrats filibustered the measure on September 17, 2015, by a vote of 53-45. Sixty votes were needed to proceed to the amendment.[22]
Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015
On October 1, 2015, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced S 2119 - the Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015. The legislation proposed the following: requiring the administration submit a "10-year strategy to counter Iranian activities in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond" every two years; authorizing the president to provide military assistance to Israel; and creating a process to allow Congress to quickly impose sanctions on Iran if the country engaged in terrorist activity or violated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.[23]
See also
- Iran nuclear agreement: An overview
- Iran nuclear agreement: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
- Iran nuclear agreement:Negotiations
- Iran nuclear agreement: Timeline
- Iran nuclear agreement: Congressional review
- 2016 presidential candidates on the Iran nuclear deal
- Iran nuclear agreement: U.S. - Israeli relations
- Iran nuclear agreement: Public opinion
- Outline for nuclear agreement with Iran reached
- Iran nuclear agreement talks resume ahead of deadline
- 2016 presidential candidates on the Iran nuclear deal
- John Kerry
- Barack Obama
- P5+1 and E3+3
External links
- House letter to President Obama
- Detailed Timeline of Nuclear Diplomacy with Iran
- "Iran Nuclear Negotiations: Status of Talks and the Role of Congress"
- "PM Netanyahu's Speech in Congress"
- "An Open Letter to the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran"
- "Parameters for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran's Nuclear Program"
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Footnotes
- ↑ The Guardian, "Iran nuclear deal reached in Vienna," July 14, 2015
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Iran, World Powers Reach Nuclear Deal," July 14, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 118," accessed September 26, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 226," accessed May 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.269," accessed March 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HJ Res 64," accessed September 7, 2015
- ↑ Roskam.House.gov, "H. Res. _ - Raising a question of the privileges of the House of Representatives," accessed September 9, 2015
- ↑ Roskam.House.gov, "Roskam Raises Question of the Privileges of the House Demanding Access to Iran-IAEA Side Agreements," accessed September 9, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.Amdt.2640 to H.J.Res.61," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HJ Res 61," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Senates.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on McConnell Amdt. No. 2640 )," accessed September 16, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on McConnell Amdt. No. 2640 )," accessed September 17, 2015
- ↑ Pompeo.House.gov, "'Pompeo-Zeldin' Resolution on Iran Nuclear Deal Introduced," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 492," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 3461," accessed September 11, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 493," accessed September 11, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 3460," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 494," accessed September 11, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 3457," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "House votes to block Iran sanctions relief," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 533," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Congress.gov, "S.Amdt.2656 to S.Amdt.2640," accessed September 17, 2015 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "samdt2656vote" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Congress.gov, "S 2119," accessed November 13, 2015
