On the recordOctober 1, 2015
I thank my colleague, Mr. Meehan from Pennsylvania, for introducing this very important piece of legislation. The President's nuclear agreement with Iran provides them with billions in frozen assets and sanctions relief. One needs only to look at recent history to know exactly what Iran will do with this financial windfall. While pursuing a nuclear bomb, Iran has been engaged in a decades- long campaign of terror that resulted in the deaths of many, many Americans. They continue to bankroll proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi rebels. Atrocities like the Beirut marine barracks bombing, the murder of Bobby Stethem on TWA flight 847, Khobar Towers, and the kidnapping of CIA Agent William Buckley, are just a small taste of what Iranian state-sponsored terrorism has wrought. This bill is about everyday Americans getting justice. Americans like the family of Beaver County native Major John Macroglou, the highest ranking officer killed in the attack on the Beirut marine barracks. Victims of Iranian terrorism have successfully brought suit in U.S. courts, yet billions in judgments remain unpaid. The Obama administration failed to secure restitution for the victims of Iran in its negotiations with this country, but this legislation can rectify this wrong. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
