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Senators want sanctions on Central Bank of Iran if regime
fails to engage in dialogue
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Democratic U.S. Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, and his Senate colleagues Arizona Republicans Jon Kyl and John McCain and Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman introduced a measure on Monday that urges President Obama to impose tough new sanctions on the Iranian government if it fails to take tangible steps to abandon its nuclear ambitions by this fall.
The measure, which was introduced as an amendment to S. 1390, the Defense Authorization Act, specifically urges sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran – the keystone of Iran’s financial system and its principal remaining lifeline to the international banking system – if the Iranians fail to embrace President Obama’s offer of direct diplomacy before the G-20 summit at the end of the September, or fail to suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities within 60 days of that summit.
It also makes clear the Senate’s hope that the Iranians will take up President Obama’s offer of engagement, and that, if they fail to do so, the United States will impose economic sanctions on the government of Iran unless the United Nations Security Council adopts more stringent multilateral sanctions.
“Ayatollah Khamenei should seize the historic opportunity offered by President Obama for Iran to change course and rejoin the community of nations,” said Senator Bayh. “It is vital that Iran’s leaders know that there will be grave consequences if they do not agree to forego their drive for a nuclear weapon. If Iranian officials are unwilling to sit down at the table and negotiate, then Congress is prepared to authorize crippling economic sanctions.”
“Whether one believes ‘engaging’ directly with the regime in Tehran will accomplish anything, there is no question that time is of the essence,” said Senator Kyl. “Every day that passes is time that the Iranians use to perfect a nuclear weapon and stockpile nuclear weapons material. This amendment makes clear the steps Iran must take to avoid devastating sanctions.”
“I have supported the President’s efforts to engage the Iranians in direct diplomacy, but the Iranians need to understand that this is a limited time offer,” said Senator Lieberman. “This amendment presents the Iranians with a clear choice: either they can engage with the United States and take steps to freeze their nuclear program, or they can continue on their current trajectory – in which case, they will face ever-more powerful and damaging sanctions.”
“Iran has gotten away with too much for too long. As time passes with no positive movement by the regime in Tehran, its efforts to enrich uranium – and the dangers they pose to our national security – grow greater. This amendment demonstrates that the regime must decide to change course, soon, or face severe sanctions for its continued defiance of the international community,” said Senator McCain.
Frank, Lowey, Meeks, Obey hit Obama on signing statements
WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)- In a letter sent to President Obama on Tuesday , four leading Democratic House members with primary legislative responsibility for U.S. participation in the international financial institutions noted their surprise and disappointment at the signing statement
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issued by the President when he recently approved the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009.
In the signing statement, the President asserted that he did not feel bound by certain reform provisions attached to congressional funds for the World Bank and IMF, claiming that they would interfere with his constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations, diplomacy, or negotiations.
The four committee leaders cautioned the President that continued insistence on his right to ignore provisions of laws providing funds to international financial institutions would make it highly unlikely that such funds would be provided in the future.
The letter was signed by Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin of the House Appropriations Committee and Chairman Nita Lowey of New Yor of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, which have jurisdiction over funding for the World Bank, the IMF and other international financial institutions, as well as Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts of the House Financial Services Committee and Chairman Gregory Meeks of New York of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy, which have responsibility for the authorization of funds for these institutions.
House bill takes Florida's 'A Child is Missing' program national
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation authored by Democratic Congressman Ron Klein of Florida to help find children in the critical moments after they are reported missing. The bill, the A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act (H.R. 1933) expands the widely-praised South Florida non-profit A Child Is Missing into a national program. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by a final vote of 417-5.
“This legislation is essential to every family around the county,” Klein said. “Every parent’s worst nightmare is to find that their child is missing, and today’s legislation can put their minds at ease by utilizing the latest technology to quickly find missing children and avoid potential tragedy.”
When a child or senior citizen is reported missing, A Child Is Missing utilizes the latest technology to place 1,000 emergency telephone calls every 60 seconds to residents and businesses in the area where the person was last seen. The program works in concert with the AMBER Alert, but is activated more quickly. Time is a critical factor, as 74 percent of children who are kidnapped and murdered are slain within three hours of their abduction. Klein’s legislation has the support of law enforcement agencies nationwide.
“A Child is Missing fills a critical gap in time in the most dangerous cases, and can be the difference between whether a child lives or dies,” Klein said. “There is nothing more important than protecting our children, and the founder of A Child is Missing, Sherry Friedlander, deserves our highest praise for turning her Ft. Lauderdale-based nonprofit into a blessing for parents nationwide. A Child is Missing has safely recovered kids from Ohio to Alaska, and with the passage of today’s legislation, we can serve even more communities.”
Congressman Louie Gohmert, a former Texas state judge and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, is the lead Republican co-sponsor of the bipartisan A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act.
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