[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4821-H4822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Roskam) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks the 1-year anniversary of the 
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the so-called Iran nuclear deal.
  President Obama made a series of promises to the American people. One 
was that Iran would cease its illicit nuclear activity. And yet, last 
week, Mr. Speaker, Germany reported that Iran has increased its illegal 
proliferation of nuclear technology.
  President Obama also promised that the nuclear deal would moderate 
Iran. In other words, there was a gentle, nice Iran that was waiting to 
come out, if only we would be more understanding. But in the past year, 
the Islamic Republic has launched nuclear ballistic missiles in 
violation of U.N. security resolutions, kidnapped U.S. sailors, shot 
rockets within 1,500 yards of U.S. Navy ships, and increased their 
support for terror regimes and terror groups, and remain the world's 
largest state sponsor of terrorism.
  The President also stated that the U.S. sanctions regime would stay 
in place against Iran's terror activity while it was being lifted 
against the nuclear activity.
  But, instead, the U.S. has become Iran's negotiator in chief on the 
world stage and has rewarded companies that continue to support the 
Iranian National Guard Core and is devising ways to give Iran access to 
the U.S. financial system.
  One year after the President agreed to a dangerous nuclear deal, Iran 
continues to be a major adversary. Congress needs to highlight and 
spotlight Iran's malevolent activity. The good news is Congress is 
doing just that, Mr. Speaker.
  I am encouraged that the House will take up three very important 
pieces of legislation. It will deal with the heavy water bill.
  Think about this. Iran gets caught manufacturing heavy water. Rather 
than calling out the Iranian regime, in clear violation of the nuclear 
deal, what does the administration do?
  The administration says: Well, we are going to help Iran comply with 
the deal that they have just violated by using United States taxpayer 
money to buy the heavy water from Iran.
  You can't make this up. It is so absurd. We are only given excuses. 
We have got to focus in on what else is happening on this issue.
  Now, Boeing and Airbus have failed to understand the deep risks that 
come from doing business with Iran. These aren't necessarily risks for 
their bottom line. They are very willing to sell to a terrorist regime. 
But they are risks to freedom-loving people around the world.
  Both Airbus and Boeing want to do what?

[[Page H4822]]

  They want to sell a product that can be used for terrorism. They can 
use airlines for the purpose of moving things into illicit areas.
  We all know that Iran Air was sanctioned for ferrying weapons and 
troops to rogue regimes and terrorist groups. We know that Iran Air was 
implicated in North Korea's ballistic missile tests. And we also know 
that Iran systematically uses their commercial aircraft to transport 
weapons, troops, missiles, cash, and other supplies to terror groups.
  Mr. Speaker, on my left is a display. This is a computer printout 
that shows a flight from Tehran to Damascus last week. Now, think about 
this. This is the hubris of the Iranian regime: the Iranian Air Force 
flying a Boeing 747 in the middle of the night from Tehran to Damascus.
  Do we think that this is for commercial purposes? Of course, not.
  Did we think that this is for tourism? Of course, not.
  Do we think that they are flying baby formula or textbooks? Of 
course, not.
  What they are doing is a bad act, and we ought to not be complicit in 
this.
  Mr. Speaker, 1 week ago, this House passed, on a bipartisan basis, 
limitations to the Financial Services Appropriations bill that would 
prevent this sale. And we did it by voice vote. What a voice vote means 
is that nobody substantially rose in opposition.
  Why? Because there is no real reason to rise because more and more 
people are recognizing that these types of sales should not go through.
  In response, the CEO of Boeing, Dennis Muilenburg, essentially said: 
Well, look, us selling to Iran is a good business opportunity to do 
business with the Iranians.
  And then he also said: Well, if Boeing can't sell, then nobody else 
should be able to sell.
  But did you notice something, Mr. Speaker, in those two comments?
  He didn't say: Look, we have got this under control. He didn't say: 
We are positive that nothing is going to be used for terrorism. He 
didn't say that this wouldn't jeopardize national security. He just 
said: If we can't do it, nobody should be able to do it.
  Look, I agree, if Boeing can't do it, nobody should be able to do it. 
It is well known that all of Boeing's competitors--Airbus of France, 
Bombardier of Canada, Embraer from Brazil, Comac from China--each of 
these companies sources at least 10 percent of their components from 
the United States. They require the same license that Boeing does.
  But that is not the point. What we need are iconic American companies 
following the lead of companies like Lockheed Martin--which has said 
they won't pursue this--Northrop Grumman, and others that haven't 
sullied their reputation.
  It is time for Congress to continue to do its good work.

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