Introduced 4 days after Iran and the P5+1 announced a 4-month extension to their negotiations, this bill would institute congressional oversight procedures on any agreement reached on Iran’s nuclear program and establish a mechanism for Congress to endorse or overturn such an agreement.
Specifically, the measure would require the Obama administration to submit any agreement to Congress within 3 days, allowing the legislature a 15-day review period and a further 15 days to pass a joint resolution of disapproval, should it wish to do so. If no agreement is submitted to Congress within 3 days of the negotiations’ new deadline on 11/24/14, or if Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval, then all funding to implement the agreement would be restricted, in effect reinstating all sanctions. Also, the bill would require the director of national intelligence to report to Congress on Iranian violations of the agreement, triggering the reimposition of sanctions. Finally, sanctions waived or suspended in connection with the negotiations would be reinstated in full on 11/28/14 unless the president certified that a final agreement addressing all ‘key aspects’ of Iran’s nuclear program and of a ‘significantly longer’ duration than previous agreements was reached.
On 11/13, less than 2 weeks before the new 11/24 deadline and 9 days after the Republican victories in the 11/4 midterm elections, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bob Corker (R-TN) asked for unanimous consent to allow a vote on this bill. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) objected, saying ‘It would send a message that Congress does not stand with the president as the negotiations continue.’ His objection blocked their motion. Throughout 2014, President Obama said he would veto any legislation with the potential to undermine the negotiations with Iran.
AIPAC strongly supported this bill.
11 cosponsors (11R).
See also: H.R. 4967 of 6/25/14 and H. Con. Res. 109 of 7/23/14.
Last major action: 7/23/14 Referred to the Senate Comm. on Foreign Relations.