For Immediate Release: April 27, 2006
Contacts: Kimberly Allen, (202) 226-8364; (202) 420-1524 [cell]
Rothman Votes to Stop Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program
(Washington, DC)— Yesterday afternoon, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) helped pass the Iran Freedom Support Act (H.R. 282), which enforces meaningful sanctions against Iran to halt its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iran is a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has foresworn acquiring nuclear weapons. Yet, its clandestine nuclear program was exposed in 2002 and Iran is making disturbing advancements in its program.
"Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, is fast approaching the point of no return on its nuclear weapons program. The United States must act while Iran is still susceptible to economic and diplomatic sanctions. The security of all Americans, Europe, and our allies around the world is at stake," said Rothman, who is an original co-sponsor of this legislation.
IFSA strengthens U.S. sanctions against Iran, authorizes economic assistance for democratic reformers within Iran, and calls for American investors to divest their holdings of companies invested in Iran's energy sector. The bill, which has an overwhelming 356 co-sponsors, passed 397-21.
Earlier this month, Rothman questioned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the ongoing Iranian funding of Hizbollah terrorists in Lebanon, where 13,000 rockets remain aimed at Israel. Rice affirmed the Congressman's point that Hizbollah's presence in Lebanon clearly violates the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, which called on all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, including Hizbollah, to disband and said the State Department is making every effort to press the Iranians on this matter.
Rothman, a member of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, vehemently opposes any U.S. funding for nations that harbor or sponsor terrorists.
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