My only regret is that we're having this hearing in 2009, and it's several years too late for many of the communities we represent.

I have little doubt that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons capability.

I believe we must have as many tools as possible at our disposal for the United States.

Could you not extend that same logic to U.S. contracts and allow our partners to engage in that business decision?

So I think in some senses, we are with this legislation taking the lessons learned from Undersecretary Levy's very successful efforts.

Look, can you put a hold on this contract? Can you put Vitol to a choice between selling to the Department of Energy and selling to Iran?

Iran continues to deny IAEA inspectors access to key nuclear facilities.

I believe this legislation is a very positive step in the right direction.

I think we as a country understand the importance of working with other countries, but certainly setting our own precedent and our own position of stopping economic dealings as much as we can with Iran.

The State of Florida has divested more than $1.1 billion of investments thus far, and the retirement system of our public employees no longer owns one dime of direct holdings in companies enabling Iran to press ahead with its pursuit of…

The purpose of the legislation we are discussing today is to permit State and local governments, educational institutions, and private fund managers to divest from entities that invest $20 million or more in Iran's energy sector.