Ted Deutch: “I thank the chairman, and I thank my friend, the ranking member. I have to oppose the amendment of my friend from…”

“I thank the chairman, and I thank my friend, the ranking member. I have to oppose the amendment of my friend from Kansas. I oppose the amendment not because of what my friend is trying to accomplish, but because of the way that we are trying to do it. I proudly represent Bob Levinson, who went missing on March 9, 2007. He is the longest held American in history. We have worked tirelessly in this House--working with my friend, the sponsor of this amendment; Mr. Royce, the chairman of the committee; and Mr. Engel, the ranking member, we have worked in a strong, bipartisan way, all of us together, to bring Bob home. By amending this legislation--which I explained last week in our committee hearing why I opposed, just as the ranking member did today, because of the risks that the underlying bill causes in violating our legal obligations under the Algiers Accords that has yielded over $2.5 billion for American claimants and prohibiting settlement of claims until certification, that requirement that could prevent the U.S. from reaching settlement. This is a piece of legislation that we oppose. The goal is to continue to ensure that everything we do in focusing on bringing Bob home is done in a way that can pass with overwhelming support. So, unfortunately, I have to oppose my good friend's amendment. But I want to thank him for the effort of focusing attention, again, on American citizens who continue to be held in Iran.…”