I think it would give every Member of this Committee as well as me personally a great pride to call Congressman Filner and tell him, 'Bob, your bill is now law.'

Unfortunately Florida has lost 343 of its sons and daughters in Iraq and Afghanistan, a number second only to Texas.

The amendment in the nature of a substitute should have a vote before we have the en bloc amendments.

I think it is really important that the American public hear that under their leadership we have come together to support this legislation.

This legislation sends a message to all of the other countries of the Middle East who are also terribly threatened by an Iranian nuclear power that this shall not be tolerated.

I believe that this amendment would represent a violation of the ex post facto provision in the Constitution.

I agree that if the penalties under this Act do not apply to any action before enactment, then the ex post facto provision has not been violated.

Our strength in this country comes from the fact that we are a nation of laws, and we need to respect the highest law of all. That is the Constitution.

I think putting this in the bill at this point risks torpedoing the entire bill.

I think it is a very dangerous precedent to set that we pass a provision that is on its face unconstitutional for the sake of showing an iron will, whatever that may mean.

I have to respectfully disagree with the gentleman from California.