House Committee Approves Iran Freedom Support Act (original) (raw)

US Congressional Committee ApprovesIran Democracy Promotion Legislation

Voice of America - Report Section

Apr 14, 2005

House Middle East Subcommittee VOA photo - D. Robinson

AU.S. congressional committee has approved legislation seeking tostrengthen existing U.S. sanctions on Iran and put more pressure onIran's government on the issue of weapons of mass destruction, whileproviding greater support for Iranian democracy groups.

TheIran Freedom Support Act declares it should be U.S. policy to supporthuman rights and pro-democracy forces in the United States and abroadopposing what it calls the non-democratic government ofIran.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Thebill, whose authors say is supported by some 140 House members, wasapproved Wednesday by the House Middle East Subcommittee chaired byFlorida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. "Iran is the full ticket.It has medium and long-range missile programs, it is believed to have(a) chemical and biological weapons program, it is pursuing nuclearcapabilities, it remains the most active state sponsor of terrorismin the world," he said.

Thelegislation codifies existing sanctions against Iran, under the 1996Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, and includes stricter provisions regardingthe waiving of sanctions by the president, and requirements forinvestigations of suspected investments in Iran.

Asbefore, sanctions would remain until the president certifies Tehranhas dismantled weapons of mass destruction programs and commits tocombating proliferation of such weapons.

Thebill also threatens to withhold foreign assistance from countriesinvesting in Iran's energy sector by defining this as direct supportfor Iran's regime.

Lawmakerssay stronger provisions are aimed at closing loopholes allowingforeign subsidiaries of U.S. companies to circumvent penaltiesregarding investment in Iran.

"TheIran-Libya sanctions has been law although no one has ever beensanctioned under it. Instead, we have a grand bargain with ourEuropean and Japanese friends if they will pretend to take ourconcerns about Iran seriously, we will pretend to enforce our laws.In the meantime, Iran inches ever closer to acquiring a nuclearweapon," said Congressman Gary Ackerman, the top Democrat on theHouse Middle East Subcommittee.

The legislationurges, but does not require, U.S. government and other pension fundsto divest from existing investments in companies subject to sanctionsunder the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act and to avoid futureinvestment.

The billcontains mandatory sanctions for persons or entities helping Iranacquire or develop chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons orrelated technologies, or what it calls destabilizing conventionalweapons.

What the UnitedStates suspects is Iran's effort to acquire nuclear weapons under theguise of domestic energy development is a key focus.

It urgesPresident Bush to press for a U.N. Security Council resolutionrequiring Tehran to provide international inspectors unrestrictedaccess to its nuclear facilities, with a threat of furthersanctions.

Thelegislation would authorize funding for groups pressing fordemocratic reform, human rights, and civil liberties inIran.

However,it requires that such groups also oppose the use of terrorism, aprovision linked to the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq,still officially listed by the State Department as a terroristorganization.

CongresswomanRos-Lehtinen cautions there will be strict standards for assistance,adding in her words, it is not that you can just re-invent yourselfas a pro-democracy group in order to get funding.

Thelegislation would also fund independent democracy and radio andtelevision broadcasters for Iran.

The U.S.government finances Radio Farda, which broadcasts to Iran, as well astelevision and radio broadcasts by the Voice of America's Persianservice.

The IranFreedom Act is likely to be approved by the full House InternationalRelations Committee. Similar Iran legislation is pending in theSenate.

CongresswomanRos-Lehtinen says Bush administration support will be crucial tochances for approval by both houses of Congress.

H.R.282
Title: To hold the current regime in Iran accountable for itsthreatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy inIran.
Sponsor: RepRos-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] (introduced 1/6/2005) Cosponsors(136)
Latest Major Action: 1/6/2005 Referred to House committee.Status: Referred to the House Committee on InternationalRelations.

COSPONSORS(136), ALPHABETICAL[followed by Cosponsorswithdrawn]: (Sort: bydate)