Updated 8/1/15: Last month, the United States along with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China signed a deal with Iran to substantially limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the removal of international sanctions. On July 19, the State Department officially transmitted the agreement to Congress—triggering the 60-day Congressional review period set by legislation passed by Congress in May. During this review period, Congress must vote on a joint resolution of approval or disapproval (or opt to do nothing). The 60-day review period expires on Sept. 17, 2015.
About the Deal
Under the new nuclear deal, “Iran has committed to extraordinary and robust monitoring, verification, and inspection,” according to the White House. “International inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will not only be continuously monitoring every element of Iran’s declared nuclear program, but they will also be verifying that no fissile material is covertly carted off to a secret location to build a bomb. And if IAEA inspectors become aware of a suspicious location, Iran has agreed to implement the Additional Protocol to their IAEA Safeguards Agreement, which will allow inspectors to access and inspect any site they deem suspicious. Such suspicions can be triggered by holes in the ground that could be uranium mines, intelligence reports, unexplained purchases, or isotope alarms.” (Learn more.)
From our Hill Sources: According to legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President in May, Congress must now review the deal—and decide whether to pass a resolution to disapprove the agreement. The entire process could take up to 82 days, and during that time, the President cannot lift sanctions on Iran until the review and voting period is over. The law also requires the Administration to provide detailed reports to Congress every 90 days to ensure that Iran is complying with the nuclear agreement.
Here’s how it will work, according to legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President in May: The White House has until July 19—five days after the signing of the Iran deal—to deliver the agreement to Congress. Then, Congress has 60 days to review it, or until Sept. 17. (Keep in mind that Congress will be in recess from August 10 – Sept. 7.) Congress then has 12 days (by Sept. 29) to vote on a joint resolution approving or disapproving the deal. Or Congress could opt to do nothing.
If Congress passes a resolution disapproving the deal, the President could veto it. Congress would then have 10 days to override the veto, which would require a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and House. (If Congress were to override a veto, the President would lose his ability to waive sanctions on Iran, which would cause the current agreement to fall through.)
(Graphic from the White House.)
Resolution Disapproving the Deal
Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus introduced legislation expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in disapproval of the agreement between the P5+1 and Iran. The resolution is “intended to build support for an expected vote on a formal joint resolution of disapproval in September.”
Resolution Disapproving the Iran Nuclear Agreement (HRes 367)
Sponsor: Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) “Sets the stage for the 60-day lead up to a vote on this agreement by allowing Members to express their disapproval of the accord. The unprecedented outpouring of support for this resolution proves that Congress will not rubber-stamp a deal that severely threatens the United States and our allies by paving Iran's path to a bomb.”
“This agreement fails on every level to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapons capability. Tehran is allowed to keep much of its nuclear infrastructure intact and rewarded an $150 billion cash infusion from sanctions relief. The so-called ‘anytime, anywhere’ inspections regime in reality provides Iran nearly a month's notice on inspections. And, in an unprecedented last-minute concession, the U.N. arms embargo and ban on ballistic missiles will be lifted in just a few short years. This is a bad deal, and it must be stopped,” according to the sponsor. (Read resolution text)
Related Bills
Authorizing military force against Iran if it violates the terms of the nuclear deal (HJRes 62)
Sponsor: Rep. John Larson (D-CT) To authorize the use of the Armed Forces of the United States against Iran if Iran commits a serious violation of its commitments or obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The authority granted to use military force against Iran would sunset after a year. (Read resolution text)
According to HJRes 62: “If, at any time, the President determines that Iran’s nuclear program becomes noncompliant under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement and poses a threat to the national security of the United States, then the President should work with Congress to utilize appropriate measures, not limited to military intervention, to eliminate such threat.”
From our Hill Sources: The authority to use military action against Iran would only be allowed if the President certifies to Congress that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have determined Iran has failed to comply with its obligations under the deal in a way that threatens US security; sanctions have been re-imposed against Iran; and if the president provides Congress with a concrete strategy to use armed forces.
Clarifying Congressional Review Period for Iran Nuclear Deal (SRes 238)
Sponsor: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) “Defining the start of Congress’ 60-day review period and detailing flaws within the submittal of the agreement,” according to the bill sponsor. “The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 mandates that the 60-day congressional review period cannot begin until the nuclear agreement with Iran, and all related materials outlined in the Act, are transmitted to Congress. President Obama has failed to provide separate side agreements and federal guidance materials to Congress, so the review period cannot have begun without the majority leader’s consent.” (Read resolution text)
Prohibiting Assistance to Nuclear Iran Act (HR 3273)
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) “To ensure that no US funds or resources would ever be used to help and defend Iran’s nuclear program,” according to the bill sponsor. “Would prohibit US assistance to Iran to develop, use, or protect their nuclear technology as requested in the nuclear agreement President Obama delivered to Congress earlier this month.” (Read bill text)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) this week introduced legislation authorizing President Obama “to detain non-diplomatic Iranian government officials until three, possibly four, Americans currently held hostage in Iran are released”:
Authorizes President to Detain Iranian Officials (HR 3259)
Sponsor: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) “Three Americans – Jason Rezaian, Saced Abedini, and Amir Hekmati – are currently being held as prisoners of the Iranian government. A fourth, Robert Levinson, is reportedly missing in Iran. The administration’s negotiating team, led by Secretary of State John Kerry, did not include release of the American hostages as part of the deal,” according to the bill sponsor. (Read bill text)
Another bill was introduced last week that touched on the nuclear agreement. The bill would establish a fund to make payments to the Americans held hostage in Iran in 1979. According to the sponsor: “Whether it is the Carter Administration refusing to secure just compensation for the hostages then, or the Obama Administration refusing to secure the release of US hostages in the Iran Nuclear agreement now, these victims must not bear the burden for these poorly negotiated deals: they deserve better.”
Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act (HR 3338)
Sponsor: Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) “Seeks just compensation for hostages held during 1979 invasion of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in which dozens of Americans were held hostage for 444 days,” according to the bill sponsor. “Would allocate fines and penalties generated by the violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran, as well as other potential assets, to justly compensate the former hostages and their families.” (Read bill text)
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