Brooks Applauds House Passage of Bill to Prevent Future Ransoms to Iran

Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted in support of House passage of H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act.  Last week, the legislation passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee, of which Congressman Brooks is a member.  H.R. 5931 was introduced in direct response to the Obama Administration’s reckless initial cash ransom payment of $400 million and subsequent payments, totaling $1.7 billion, to the Iranian regime, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.  

Congressman Brooks said, “I’m pleased the House expeditiously took up House Foreign Affairs Committee legislation to prevent future ransom payments to Iran.  While the Administration claims the payments are part of a decades old settlement, a Department of State spokesman admitted the cash payment was used as ‘leverage’ to gain the release of American hostages.  However the Administration wants to describe the cash payment, the action undermines American interests and is extremely dangerous.  Not surprisingly, this ransom payment has already led to more Americans and other dual nationals being taken hostage.”[i]

Brooks concluded, “This Administration has proved all too willing to skirt the law and put Americans at risk – in this case by sending billions to a rogue regime that chants ‘death to America’ to this day.  I am glad the House passed legislation to prevent future cash payouts to Iran that only serve to endanger Americans and subsidize Islamic terrorism.”