SOLIDIFY IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 2025

On 2025-05-05, Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-7) delivered a floor speech titled "SOLIDIFY IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 2025" in the House.

SOLIDIFY IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 74 (Monday, May 5, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 74 (Monday, May 5, 2025)] [House] [Pages H1838-H1839] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SOLIDIFY IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 2025 Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1800) to repeal the sunset provision of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1800 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) requires the imposition of sanctions with respect to Iran's illicit weapons programs, conventional weapons and ballistic missile development, and support for terrorism, including Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps. (2) The Government of Iran has acquired destabilizing conventional weapons systems from the Russian Federation and other malign actors, and is funneling weapons and financial support to its terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East, threatening allies and partners of the United States, such as Israel. SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. It is the policy of the United States to fully implement and enforce the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104- 172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note). SEC. 4. REPEAL OF SUNSET. Section 13 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended-- (1) in the section heading, by striking ``; sunset''; (2) by striking ``(a) Effective Date.--''; and (3) by striking subsection (b). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida. General Leave Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida? There was no objection. Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1800, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025. The Iran Sanctions Act was enacted back in 1996. For 29 years, this law has acted as the cornerstone of U.S. efforts to address the Iran regime's malign influence. From its support to terrorist proxies to its dangerous nuclear program, the impact of the regime's provocative actions continues to be felt far and wide. These sanctions are more important now than ever. As this administration pursues a last-ditch effort to address the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program diplomatically, these sanctions continue to provide much-needed leverage to address the full range of Iran's malign activity. They are a vital and necessary tool not only to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon and to cut off its enrichment capabilities but also to counter Iran's malign influence abroad, including its ongoing support to terrorist proxies like the Houthis. What we see across the region and beyond is that the threat Iran poses to the United States and our partners and allies is becoming more and more entrenched. We need a policy response that is durable and shows that we are committed, day in and day out, to choking off any financial support to Iran's malign activities. That is why, today, the House is considering the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, which would eliminate the upcoming 2026 sunset from the Iran Sanctions Act. We need to send Iran a clear and simple message. They cannot wait out our sanctions. Our sanctions will not expire on some arbitrary date. The only way to make U.S. sanctions go away is to stop the sanctionable conduct and not threaten the United States' national security interests or our allies, period. The fact that we are considering this bill under suspension of rules is hugely significant. It shows that eliminating this sunset is not a partisan issue. Republicans and Democrats agree that we need durable, long-lasting, and long-term pressure on Iran. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1800, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025. For nearly 30 years, Congress and the executive branch have utilized the Iran Sanctions Act, or ISA, to constrict Iran's energy sector, denying the Iranian regime needed funds to grow its nefarious nuclear program and carry out state-sponsored terror activities. Originally passed into law in 1996, the ISA has been the key statutory element undergirding our sanctions infrastructure against Iran. The ISA provides secondary sanctions authority to hold third- party firms accountable for their investments in Iran, as well. Since 1996, Congress has built upon this legislation multiple times and has expanded the list of transactions that are considered violations of the ISA. These sanctions, combined with additional sanctions on Iran's financial system and petroleum transactions, as well as aggressive American diplomacy, are what drove Iran to the negotiation table to finalize the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015, a deal that effectively prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon before it was torn up by President Trump in 2018. Today, Iran is closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon than ever before. The Iranian regime, through its backing of terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, continues to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East. We must ask ourselves: Under what circumstances can Congress envision abandoning our sanctions infrastructure while this Iranian regime is in power? What indications have we had since 1996 that this regime is interested in changing its nature and becoming a productive and peaceful member of the international community? While it is exceedingly rare that Congress should waive sunsets, and I would support an extended authorization, the failure of Iran to change for decades speaks for itself. The ISA is the only major Iran sanctions statute that contains a sunset provision. In general, sunset provisions have value, forcing Congress to reevaluate and reconsider sanctions to adjust to new situations. However, even in the instance a new Iran deal is reached and successfully implemented, I believe we would want this sanctions infrastructure still in place, just as it was under the JCPOA, so that Iran and the international community know what awaits them if progress is not made or promises are not kept. Repealing the sunset provision of the ISA is also an issue of checks and balances. Losing congressional authority [[Page H1839]] of this critical sanctions infrastructure would effectively cede more authority to the executive branch, which has already proven to be more than willing to act unilaterally and without congressional oversight in carrying out executive actions. Passing the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 would send an important message about Congress' role in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy toward Iran and, in sum, serves American national security interests. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Mackenzie), the sponsor of this bill. Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support my bill, H.R. 1800, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025. Mr. Speaker, at a time when our country is working to achieve peace and de-escalate military conflict in multiple locations around the world, we must remain vigilant about the ongoing threats posed by some of our long-term adversaries. {time} 1645 Iran has a well-established record of destabilizing the Middle East and threatening its neighbors. The Government of Iran is manufacturing weapons, including drones, acquiring conventional weapons through malign actors, and supporting those actors around the world by funneling weapons and financial support. They do it through their terrorist proxy network throughout the Middle East. These actions directly threaten U.S. personnel and our allies in the region. Iran-backed militias have killed and injured U.S. troops stationed on bases in the Middle East, including an attack on a U.S. base in Jordan on January 28, 2024, which killed three American soldiers and injured dozens more. We also know that Iran is continuing to enrich uranium and manufacture long-range missiles which together pose an unprecedented threat to regional stability. As the current administration works to achieve the total dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program, it is critical that we give them the tools that they need in order to enforce their policy of maximum pressure. In order to achieve peace and stability in the region, we have to remind Tehran that they will not be able to grow, prosper, or effectively do business until they end their nuclear ambitions and stop supporting terrorism. Today's legislation achieves that by empowering our administration during negotiations and putting Iran on notice. This bill removes the sunset clause from the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, making it permanent law. The original act mandates sanctions on individuals and entities involved in Iran's energy sector in its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction. By eliminating the expiration date, we ensure that these sanctions remain a steadfast component of our national security strategy. The Iran Sanctions Act has been a cornerstone in our efforts to deter Iran's malign activities, and this legislation will show our clear resolve on that issue. We must send this

Referenced legislation: HR1800, HR1800