US Congressional Committee Approves Iran Democracy Promotion Legislation
Voice of America - Report Section

House Middle East Subcommittee VOA photo - D. Robinson

A U.S. congressional committee has approved legislation seeking to strengthen existing U.S. sanctions on Iran and put more pressure on Iran's government on the issue of weapons of mass destruction, while providing greater support for Iranian democracy groups.

The Iran Freedom Support Act declares it should be U.S. policy to support human rights and pro-democracy forces in the United States and abroad opposing what it calls the non-democratic government of Iran.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

The bill, whose authors say is supported by some 140 House members, was approved Wednesday by the House Middle East Subcommittee chaired by Florida 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 nuclear capabilities, it remains the most active state sponsor of terrorism in the world," he said.

The legislation codifies existing sanctions against Iran, under the 1996 Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, and includes stricter provisions regarding the waiving of sanctions by the president, and requirements for investigations of suspected investments in Iran.

As before, sanctions would remain until the president certifies Tehran has dismantled weapons of mass destruction programs and commits to combating proliferation of such weapons.

The bill also threatens to withhold foreign assistance from countries investing in Iran's energy sector by defining this as direct support for Iran's regime.

Lawmakers say stronger provisions are aimed at closing loopholes allowing foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies to circumvent penalties regarding investment in Iran.

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

The legislation urges, but does not require, U.S. government and other pension funds to divest from existing investments in companies subject to sanctions under the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act and to avoid future investment.

The bill contains mandatory sanctions for persons or entities helping Iran acquire or develop chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons or related technologies, or what it calls destabilizing conventional weapons.

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

It urges President Bush to press for a U.N. Security Council resolution requiring Tehran to provide international inspectors unrestricted access to its nuclear facilities, with a threat of further sanctions.

The legislation would authorize funding for groups pressing for democratic reform, human rights, and civil liberties in Iran.

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

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

The legislation would also fund independent democracy and radio and television broadcasters for Iran.

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

The Iran Freedom Act is likely to be approved by the full House International Relations Committee. Similar Iran legislation is pending in the Senate.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen says Bush administration support will be crucial to chances for approval by both houses of Congress.

H.R.282
Title: To hold the current regime in Iran accountable for its threatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy in Iran.
Sponsor: Rep Ros-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 International Relations.

COSPONSORS(136), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 1/6/2005	Rep Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4] - 4/5/2005
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] - 3/16/2005	Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 1/6/2005
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 4/5/2005	Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 1/6/2005
Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6] - 2/15/2005	Rep Bass, Charles F. [NH-2] - 4/5/2005
Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 3/8/2005	Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 1/6/2005
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 1/6/2005	Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 1/6/2005
Rep Boehlert, Sherwood [NY-24] - 1/6/2005	Rep Bonilla, Henry [TX-23] - 2/15/2005
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] - 4/5/2005	Rep Bono, Mary [CA-45] - 2/17/2005
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 3/14/2005	Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] - 4/5/2005
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 3/16/2005	Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 1/6/2005
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 2/16/2005	Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] - 1/6/2005
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] - 3/14/2005	Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 3/17/2005
Rep Chabot, Steve [OH-1] - 1/6/2005	Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] - 1/6/2005
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 2/17/2005	Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] - 4/8/2005
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] - 3/10/2005	Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 3/14/2005
Rep Cox, Christopher [CA-48] - 1/6/2005	Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 1/6/2005
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 3/17/2005	Rep Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [CA-50] - 4/8/2005
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 4/5/2005	Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 2/16/2005
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] - 4/5/2005	Rep Davis, Jo Ann [VA-1] - 1/6/2005
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 4/8/2005	Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 2/9/2005
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] - 1/6/2005	Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] - 1/6/2005
Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4] - 2/9/2005	Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] - 3/14/2005
Rep Emanuel, Rahm [IL-5] - 2/9/2005	Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 1/6/2005
Rep Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. [AS] - 1/6/2005	Rep Ferguson, Mike [NJ-7] - 3/14/2005
Rep Foley, Mark [FL-16] - 1/6/2005	Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 1/6/2005
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] - 2/9/2005	Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 3/16/2005
Rep Green, Mark [WI-8] - 1/6/2005	Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 3/17/2005
Rep Harris, Katherine [FL-13] - 1/6/2005	Rep Hart, Melissa A. [PA-4] - 4/8/2005
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 3/16/2005	Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 1/6/2005
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 2/15/2005	Rep Jindal, Bobby [LA-1] - 3/14/2005
Rep Johnson, Timothy V. [IL-15] - 1/6/2005	Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] - 2/9/2005
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 1/6/2005	Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 2/15/2005
Rep Knollenberg, Joe [MI-9] - 3/17/2005	Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 3/16/2005
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 1/6/2005	Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 1/6/2005
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 4/5/2005	Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 2/9/2005
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 3/8/2005	Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] - 3/8/2005
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 4/8/2005	Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 3/14/2005
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] - 2/15/2005	Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 1/6/2005
Rep McCrery, Jim [LA-4] - 4/8/2005	Rep McHenry, Patrick T. [NC-10] - 3/8/2005
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 3/1/2005	Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 2/15/2005
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 2/17/2005	Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 3/16/2005
Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13] - 1/6/2005	Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 1/6/2005
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 4/5/2005	Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 2/16/2005
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 4/8/2005	Rep Myrick, Sue [NC-9] - 1/6/2005
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 1/6/2005	Rep Norwood, Charlie [GA-9] - 1/6/2005
Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 1/6/2005	Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 2/16/2005
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] - 1/6/2005	Rep Pickering, Charles W. (Chip) [MS-3] - 2/9/2005
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 1/6/2005	Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 4/5/2005
Rep Pombo, Richard W. [CA-11] - 3/16/2005	Rep Porter, Jon C. [NV-3] - 1/6/2005
Rep Renzi, Rick [AZ-1] - 2/9/2005	Rep Reynolds, Thomas M. [NY-26] - 4/5/2005
Rep Rogers, Mike [MI-8] - 4/8/2005	Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 1/6/2005
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 1/6/2005	Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 1/6/2005
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 4/5/2005	Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 3/8/2005
Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-3] - 1/6/2005	Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 2/15/2005
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 4/5/2005	Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 2/15/2005
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 3/17/2005	Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] - 3/10/2005
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 3/17/2005	Rep Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. [FL-22] - 3/8/2005
Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 4/8/2005	Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 1/6/2005
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 1/6/2005	Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 3/17/2005
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 1/6/2005	Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 1/6/2005
Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] - 2/15/2005	Rep Sullivan, John [OK-1] - 1/6/2005
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 1/6/2005	Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 4/5/2005
Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] - 4/8/2005	Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 3/16/2005
Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 4/5/2005	Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25] - 2/9/2005
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-20] - 4/5/2005	Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 3/1/2005
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 4/5/2005	Rep Weldon, Dave [FL-15] - 4/8/2005
Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 1/6/2005	Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 1/6/2005
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 1/6/2005	Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 4/5/2005