Ted Deutch: “I would like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for working so hard to shepherd this bill through the…”

“I would like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for working so hard to shepherd this bill through the House in a bipartisan way. This legislation before us today takes a significant step forward in our efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities. Sanctions passed by this House have had devastating effects on the Iranian economy, and this legislation will continue our efforts to financially squeeze the regime by dramatically reducing Iran's oil exports and by diminishing Iran's ability to access other currencies, all of this while ensuring that humanitarian aid will continue to flow. Despite claims made earlier, this does not cut off medicine for children. Beyond that, this bill recognizes that despite a somewhat surprising outcome to the June presidential elections, the Iranian people are still living under a regime that too often brutally represses democratic ideals, and it imposes sanctions on those who aid the regime's active violation of human rights. To my friends who argue that this is the wrong time, I'd ask you to consider this: newly elected President Rouhani is scheduled to be sworn in in 4 days. He campaigned on economic sanctions relief. This relief will only come when the Ayatollah, when the supreme leader, decides to relinquish the nuclear weapons program. Now is the time to let President-elect Rouhani's actions speak louder than his words.…”