By Arnold Peltz

 

 

As the U.S. Congress wrapped up work before the August recess, the House of Representatives voted to approve the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act (H.R. 850). The bill passed by a bi-partisan majority of 400-20, with every member of Wisconsin’s delegation voting in favor.

 

Wisconsin, and the rest of Congress, sent a strong message to the Islamic Republic of Iran by authorizing the toughest sanctions yet, a critical step to cripple that country’s nuclear program.

 

Milwaukee Rep. Gwen Moore (D) deserves credit for voting in favor of this bill, a demonstration of her steadfast commitment to preventing a nuclear-capable Iran and the likely proliferation of nuclear weapons development that would follow across the entire Middle East, which is not the most stable region in the world.

 

The bill — authored by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) — would, among other things, tighten sanctions on foreign entities that continue trading with Iran and would pressure other countries to further reduce their imports of oil from Iran.

 

In addition to targeting Iran’s nuclear program, the legislation also aims to punish Iranian officials responsible for serious human rights abuses.

 

Although the window may be closing, as Iran enriches more and more uranium and installs more advanced centrifuges, we may still have a chance to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

 

The Nuclear Iran Prevention Act will continue the U.S. policy of working towards negotiations while increasing pressure of sanctions and political isolation until change occurs. Moore and the entire Wisconsin delegation understood the imperative of this bill, and we thank them for their vote.

 

 

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