Kamlager-Dove Statement on Iran Sanctions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) released the following statement on her votes on this week’s Iran sanction bills:

“For nearly a decade, Republicans have taken a dangerous approach to reining in Iran that minimizes opportunities to constrain Iran’s behavior through diplomacy. Republicans in Congress opposed the historic Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—the Iran Nuclear Deal negotiated by President Obama that prevented Iran from establishing a nuclear weapons program—and President Trump later withdrew the U.S. from that agreement, removing safeguards that prevented Iran from taking actions that would destabilize the Middle East.  

“Iran’s reckless, indiscriminate attack on Israel highlights the danger of rising regional tensions and the need to preserve opportunities to de-escalate. Yet House Republicans are instead doubling down on their inflexible, misguided approach at a time when they have already paralyzed U.S. national security and the ability to support our allies. This week, Republicans brought several bills to the Floor that constrain the Administration’s ability to lift sanctions on Iran, thereby disincentivizing Iran from engaging in negotiations with the United States. Let’s be clear: as the release of five American hostages from Iran last September demonstrated, diplomacy is a critical tool to influence Iran’s behavior. The Biden Administration must have all the tools necessary to deescalate tensions in the region immediately, as well as the ability to enter into diplomatic agreements with Iran in the future.”      

Specifically, the Congresswoman voted no on the following bills for these reasons:  

• H.R. 4691: This bill would mandate an onerous Congressional review every time the Administration adjusts sanctions on Iran, restricting the Administration’s authority to respond quickly to emerging developments—for example, when the Administration expanded of general licensing to support internet freedom and provide the Iranian people tools to their government’s online repression following the outbreak of protests in Iran in September 2022, or efforts to expand sanctions licensing to support the response to humanitarian disasters like earthquakes and flooding.
• H.R. 5947: This bill would eliminate the waivers on sanctions on Iran that enabled the United States to enter into the JCPOA and bring five wrongfully detained Americans home in September 2023. 
• H.R. 6323: This bill would restrict the Administration’s ability to waive sanctions on Iran’s financial sectors by requiring both chambers of Congress to issue a joint resolution of approval or disapproval, a lengthy and rarely-used legislative procedure–-creating obstacles to a critical tool for engaging in future negotiations with Iran that could restrain its ability to acquire a nuclear weapon.  
• H.R. 6046: This bill would designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, which would not impose any meaningful new sanctions in addition to those currently designated but would severely jeopardize essential humanitarian aid operations providing lifesaving assistance to Yemeni civilians.  

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