Joe Crowley: “I was proud to be a member of the House- Senate conference committee that negotiated the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions…”

“I was proud to be a member of the House- Senate conference committee that negotiated the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, and I will strongly support the passage of this agreement. This tough set of sanctions makes it clear to the Government of Iran that the United States will not stand idly by while Iran destabilizes the Middle East, threatens its neighbors, and undermines international nonproliferation efforts. Under this measure, any company or country doing business with Iran will undergo serious scrutiny and could be subject to tough penalties. This sanctions measure will also ensure that we expose those that have committed serious human rights abuses against Iranians who are struggling for democracy and freedom. Right now, Iran is being led by Ahmadinejad. His authority is not only illegitimate because of how Iran's last elections were conducted, but because of his blatant disregard for the international community. He has vowed to press ahead with the uranium enrichment and boasted that the new sanctions are nothing but, and I quote, 'worthless paper.' He stands in clear and stark defiance of the U.N. Security Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and indeed the entire world's nuclear nonproliferation efforts. For the sake of peace and stability, we must act now.”