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Rep. Williams: No More Cash Payments to Iran

September 22, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Roger Williams (R – Austin) today spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R.5931, Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act. The bill, which he cosponsored, would ban the U.S. Government from providing future cash payments to the Government of Iran.

The text of Williams’ remarks is below:

“Two weeks ago, the Obama Administration admitted to transferring 1.3 billion dollars in cash to Iran after delivering a 400 million dollar cash payment the same day Iran released American prisoners.

“The Obama Administration tried to walk back its actions by calling the first cash payment leverage.

“But the American people, frankly, know better.

“The cash payment to Iran was a ransom payment to Iran. Plain and simple.

“Let’s get one thing straight here – Iran is our enemy and not our friend.

“Iran is the enemy of our most important allies in the region and not their friend.

“Iran’s leadership has publicly promised to wipe America and Israel off the map.

“That’s not the words of a friend.

“Iran imprisons American citizens and taunts our Navy.

“That is not a friend.

“Iran is one of only three nations our Department of State classifies as a state sponsor of terrorism.

“Whether it is the Obama Administration’s refusal to utter the phrase ‘radical Islam’ or ‘ransom,’ they have tried time and again to deceive the American people with their policies that have ultimately made America less safe.

“As the increasingly popular saying goes: ‘Our friends no longer trust us, and our enemies no longer fear us.’

“It’s time for Congress to step in and block future cash payments to Iran.”


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Issues:Military