Today, representatives María Elvira Salazar ( FL-27 ) and Stephanie Murphy ( FL-07 ) presented the bipartisan Law on Government Responsibility for Energy of Iran and Venezuela, Sanctions and Terrorism, or the INVESTIGATE Law, for its acronym in English. Other co-sponsors of the bill are representatives Michael Waltz ( FL-06 ), Carlos Giménez ( FL-26 ), Jenniffer González-Colón ( PR-AL ), Steve Chabot ( OH-01 ), Mariannette Miller-Meeks ( IA-02 ), Mario Díaz-Balart ( FL-25 ), Alex Mooney ( WV-02 ), Bill Johnson ( OH-06 ) Scott Franklin ( FL-15, and David McKinley ( WV-01 ).
The INVESTIGATE Law it would require the Biden Administration to prepare a report detailing how Venezuela could benefit from a new Nuclear Agreement with Iran. Specifically, it requires the White House to report on the possible benefits to Nicolás Maduro's oil industry, how it could help Venezuela avoid US sanctions and how it would boost Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. Under the law, the report must be delivered to the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees within 14 days after reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran.
“ For years, the Iranian and Venezuelan regimes have come together out of their hatred of the United States. Iran has recruited Venezuela as its proxy for terror, including supplying its government with advanced drones to use against the United States, Colombia, and Jewish communities throughout the Western Hemisphere ”, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar said. “ A new Nuclear Accord would not only arm a US enemy with nuclear weapons, but would also empower Nicolás Maduro in our own region. If President Biden goes ahead with the new agreement, he must understand the disastrous external impacts that the negotiation will have within our own region ”.
“ As the Biden government considers whether to re-enter the nuclear deal with Iran - along with Russia and China - it is essential that the Administration consider, not only the potential advantages of the United States National Security Agreement, but also the very real disadvantages ”, Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy said. “ Defrosting Iranian assets could allow Iran to increase support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Maduro's murderous regime in Venezuela. The United States needs to have clear eyes on these threats and their impact on our security and that of our allies ”.
“ Any nuclear agreement with the Iranian regime will directly benefit the Maduro regime, posing a direct threat to the United States, the Western Hemisphere and the world ”, Congressman Michael Waltz said. “ For years, Iran has helped support the Maduro regime both militarily and financially. It is critical that Congress and the American people know exactly how that agreement would help strengthen the Maduro regime, and therefore threaten our national security, before the Biden Administration considers finalizing a nuclear deal with the Iranian regime ”.
“ There is no doubt that any Agreement with Iran negotiated by Russia and China on behalf of President Biden would help Nicolás Maduro to maintain his dominance over Venezuela. Both Russia and China are strong allies of Maduro's illegitimate regime, with Venezuela being an important component of its geopolitical strategy to invade the western hemisphere ”, Congressman Carlos Giménez said. “ Allowing Russia and China to negotiate this deal is a myopic and incredibly dangerous strategy. To protect the interests of the United States in our hemisphere, Congress must know exactly how Nicolás Maduro will benefit from any new Agreement with Iran ”.
“ The United States must remain faithful to our commitment to support the peoples who long for democracy, and not fill the coffins of the regimes that oppress them. I support the INVESTIGAR Law of the representative Salazar that will give us visibility on the dangers that any nuclear and energy agreement between Iran and Venezuela can cause, and how it could benefit terrorist groups, circumvent American law and promote undemocratic practices ”, said representative Jenniffer González-Colón.
“ The impending Iran 2.0 Nuclear Agreement of the Biden Administration will launch a financial lifeline to Iran and its allies, Russia and Venezuela", Congressman Steve Chabot said. “ The more power we give to our adversaries, the more we endanger our allies. The American people deserve to know how bad it is. That is why I introduced legislation to discover what Russia earns and why Congresswoman Salazar's Investigating Law is essential: This Administration cannot let its desperation to reach an agreement allow the mullahs to shore up Maduro ”.
“ Another flawed agreement with Iran, mediated by Communist China and Russia, will have disastrous consequences for the United States and our allies ”, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart said. “ One of the issues that has not been adequately considered is how an agreement with Iran will shore up other adversaries, such as the Maduro dictatorship, and help them evade sanctions. This important legislation requires the Administration to report on the consequences of alleviating sanctions and other concessions to Iran, including how the flawed Iran deal would affect the key interests of US national security in our hemisphere ”.
“ The United States does not have to get involved in a new nuclear deal with Iran, especially if that means the Maduro regime could benefit from it ”, Congressman Scott Franklin said. “ The relationship between Venezuela and Iran represents a great threat to the United States and the American people have the right to know how any nuclear agreement with Tehran could impact us in the western hemisphere. I am proud to join Representative Salazar and my colleagues in making sure that we hold the Biden ” Administration accountable.
To read the full text of the Bill, click here.
Original source can be found here.
