On the recordApril 22, 2010
As the Iranians accelerate their nuclear program, indications are that America may be losing its nerve. In its latest report to Congress, the CIA said that Iran has continued to expand its nuclear weapon infrastructure and that it has continued uranium enrichment. This follows reports by the U.N.'s IAEA that Iran has mastered the art of making low-enriched uranium and that it is halfway to its goal of making bomb-grade fissile material. So what are our options? We know that Iran's greatest weakness is its dependence on foreign gasoline. The mullahs have so mishandled Iran's economy since 1979 that this leading OPEC, oil-producing nation is dependent on gasoline for 40 percent of its needs. I wrote the first gasoline sanctions resolution with my colleague Rob Andrews in 2005. Over time, my colleagues and I have built a bipartisan coalition with Congressman Sherman behind a policy of ending Iran's gasoline sales. I want to thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their success in bringing this bill to the floor. In these partisan times now, when have 514 Senators and Congressmen agreed on anything? But they agree on cutting off Iran's gasoline. Now, without decisive bipartisan action soon, the security of our children and of our allies may depend on the good behavior of a terrorist nation now armed with the most dangerous weapon. So, as Congress has been sleeping, I think we should wake up. We should finally sign this bipartisan bill.
