Washington D.C., Apr 16 2024 - Today, on the House floor, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry, advocated for H.R. 6323, the Iran Counterterrorism Act of 2023. McHenry expressed concern over Iran's recent aggression towards Israel, stating, "Mr Speaker, over the weekend, we witnessed Iran’s unprecedented attack on our greatest middle eastern ally and the lone democracy in the region—Israel."
Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, McHenry pointed out, "Tehran struck our friends in Israel with a swarm of missiles and drone attacks launched from Iranian soil. Thankfully, most of the attack was intercepted by Israeli defense systems with support from the U.S. and other partners." He emphasized that Iran's actions demonstrate a clear intent to harm Israel, including through support of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Regarding the proposed legislation, McHenry stated, "This legislation will provide Congress a stronger role in any future sanctions relief for Iran." He further explained the need for a reevaluation of the current waiver system, emphasizing the unsustainable nature of the status quo when it comes to dealing with Iran.
McHenry underlined the importance of H.R. 6323, which aims to ensure that U.S. sanctions against Iran can only be waived if Iran ceases support for international terrorism. He emphasized, "The regime in Tehran is so hostile—and the threat it poses to Israeli and American interests is so high—that lawmakers need a greater say when waivers grant the ayatollahs access to the global financial system."
The Chairman expressed hope for bipartisan support, drawing parallels to a similar congressional review process for Russia sanctions. He urged colleagues to take the threat posed by Iran seriously and to support the bill authored by Congresswoman Young Kim.
In conclusion, McHenry thanked Kim for her work on the legislation and urged fellow lawmakers to back H.R. 6323, emphasizing the necessity of a thorough vetting process for waivers benefiting the Iranian government in light of recent attacks on Israeli allies.