It all Starts with a Strong Economy

An Absurd Concession: Iran Inspects Iran

Who Benefits From Lifting Sanctions On Iran?

Salute: Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne

 

It all Starts with a Strong Economy

I’ve been using this eNews to focus a great deal on our national security in recent weeks.  That’s because I feel it is important for you to know the Obama Administration’s failed track record in this critically important arena, including the details of the President’s dangerous nuclear weapons deal with Iran within which he traded temporary concessions from the Iranians for permanent, game-changing access to nuclear weapons.

But the enduring focus of Congress has been, and remains, building a strong and healthy economy that fosters job creation and stability for our families. 

Over last few years, we have been waging a pro-growth fight that protects tax relief, cuts Washington spending, and supports American energy production.

Here are some of the things that Republicans have done to protect jobs and grow our economy:

1.    We’ve paved the way for stronger trade agreements, which means more jobs and higher wages for America’s workers.  Trade is good for our country: it supports more than one in five American jobs, and manufacturing jobs tied to trade pay 16 percent more.  New trade promotion authority (TPA) will ensure that the country makes better trade agreements.  This isa big win for American workersand for New Jersey exporters and others who sell goods stamped with “made in America.” (H.R. 2146, 114th Congress)

2.    We’ve protected 99 percent of Americans from permanent tax hikes.  On January 1, 2013, income taxes were scheduled to go up on just about every American.  We were able to protect 99 percent of Americans from permanent tax increases while locking in lower rates on the estate tax and the tax on capital gains and dividends. (H.R. 8, 112th Congress) 

3.    We’ve cut government spending by $2.1 trillion and counting.  This Congresswon the most significant spending reductions in modern history.  These spending cuts have helped reduce the deficit and improve confidence in our economy. (H.R. 83, 113th Congress)

4.    We’ve backed American energy production, the biggest driver of jobs and growth in America.  From supporting the shale revolution and fighting for the Keystone XL pipeline to blocking new fees on producers.  This has helped make America the world’s top oil and natural gas producer.  (H.R. 83, 113th Congress;  S.1, 114th Congress)

5.     We’ve protected small businesses from Obamacare rules that make it harder to hire. In addition to repealing a paperwork mandate in Obamacare, we recently gave small businesses relief from rules that make it harder to hire veterans.  (H.R. 4, 112th Congress; H.R. 3236, 114th Congress)

6.    We won passage of three free trade agreements that are already paying dividends for American workers.  The Congressional majority won passage and implementation of long-delayed trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.  (H.R. 3078, 3079 & 3080, 112th Congress)

7.    It is now easier for job-seekers to find the right skills to land the right jobs.  Millions of good-paying jobs in America go unfilled because workers lack the proper skills.  With the SKILLS Act, we modernized the nation’s workforce development system by eliminating programs that weren’t working and giving flexibility to the states.  (H.R. 803, 113th Congress)

8.    It is now easier for graduates to get a good start in their careers.  We took the politics out of student loans, plain and simple.  By linking interest rates to the markets, people will see more stable and predictable rates over time, making it easier to pay for college and start contributing to the economy.  (H.R. 1911, 113th Congress)

Today, with the economy slowly improving, jobs are coming back. Yet, too many families still struggle to keep their heads above water.   We can do better but we have shown what we can achieve when we find common ground and pursue pro-growth solutions.  

An Absurd Concession: Iran Inspects Iran

The Associated Press reported this week that the Iranians have cut a secret side deal with United Nations inspectors which will cede significant authority for the inspection of certain Iranian nuclear sites to the Iranians!

Read the story here:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a9f4e40803924a8ab4c61cb65b2b2bb3/ap-exclusive-un-let-iran-inspect-alleged-nuke-work-site?Source=GovD

It seems to me that the Obama administration has a lot of explaining to do.  Why haven’t these secret side deals been provided to Congress and the American people for review?  Why should Iran be trusted to carry out its own nuclear inspections at a military site it tried to hide from the world?  How does this not set a precedent for future inspections at suspicious military sites in Iran?

President Obama famously declared that his deal includes ‘unprecedented verification.’  He claims it’s not built on ‘trust.’   But the administration’s briefings on these side deals have been totally insufficient – and incredibly - it still isn’t clear whether anyone at the White House has seen the final documents. 

The American people and their representatives in Congress have serious questions about whether this nuclear agreement will keep our country safe.  It’s time for Obama Administration to provide straightforward answers.

Who Benefits from Lifting Iran Sanctions?

Stiff international sanctions are what brought the Iranian regime to the bargaining table in recent years.  However, far too little attention has been paid to the details of the international sanctions relief contained in the multi-national Iran Nuclear Weapons Agreement.   A recent Reuters story outlined how Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps, known formerly as the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution,including its international Quds Force special operations unit, will benefit greatly when sanctions are lifted.  In addition, hundreds of businesses which have already worked to violate existing sanctions will profit, such as the Iranian Mahan Air airline,the IRGC-controlled construction firm Khatam al-Anbiya, and the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company, to name a few.

Here’s a partial listing of the thousands of people, companies and entities named in the so-called Joint Plan of Action (JPOA):

1.    ACENA SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED

2.    ADVANCE NOVEL

3.    AGHAJARI OIL & GAS PRODUCTION COMPANY

4.    AGHAZADEH, Reza

5.    AHMADIAN, Mohammad

6.    AKHAVAN-FARD, Massoud

7.    ASSA CORPORATION

8.    ASSA CORPORATION LTD

9.    ATLANTIC INTERMODAL

10.AVRASYA CONTAINER SHIPPING LINES

11.AZARAB INDUSTRIES

12.AZORES SHIPPING COMPANY ALIAS AZORES SHIPPING FZE L

13.BANCO INTERNACIONAL DE DESARROLLO CA

14.BANK KARGOSHAE

15.BANK MELLAT

16.BANK MELLI IRAN INVESTMENT COMPANY

17.BANK MELLI IRAN ZAO

18.BANK MELLI PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY

19.BANK MELLI,

20.BANK OF INDUSTRY AND MINE

21.BANK REFAH KARGARAN

22.BANK TEJARAT

23.BATENI, Naser

24.BEST PRECISE LTD

25.BETA KARA NAVIGATION LTD

26.BIIS MARITIME LIMITED

27.BIS MARITIME LIMITED

28.BUSHEHR SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED

29.BYFLEET SHIPPING COMPANY LTD

30.CEMENT INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

31.CENTRAL BANK OF IRAN

32.CHAPLET SHIPPING LIMITED

33.COBHAM SHIPPING COMPANY LTD

34.CONCEPT GIANT LTD

35.COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT BANK

36.CRYSTAL SHIPPING FZE

37.DAJMAR, Mohammad Hossein

38.DAMALIS MARINE CORPORATION

39.DARYA CAPITAL ADMINISTRATION GMBH

40.DARYA DELALAN SEFID KHAZAR SHIPPING COMPANY

41.DELTA KARA NAVIGATION LTD

42.DELTA NARI NAVIGATION LTD

43.DIAMOND SHIPPING SERVICES

44.DORKING SHIPPING COMPANY LTD 

45.EAST OIL & GAS PRODUCTION COMPANY 

46.EDBI EXCHANGE COMPANY 

47.EDBI STOCK BROKERAGE COMPANY 

48.EFFINGHAM SHIPPING COMPANY LTD 

49.EIGHTH OCEAN ADMINISTRATION GMBH  

50.EIGHTH OCEAN GMBH & CO. KG 

51.ETC.

The complete list contains thousands of parties receiving relief. You can view the entire list here:

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/245319.pdf

You will find that the length and breadth of sanctions relief in the Iran Nuclear Weapons agreement are staggering.

Many experts report that the release of over $100 billion in frozen Iranian assets and sanctions relief will provide a significant boost to the military and intelligence capabilities of Iran – the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism.

Salute: Congratulations to the Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne as community leaders helped dedicate the new Knippenberg Center for Education this summer.  The new building will provide an indoor area for educational programs for young and old, a research library, space for community activities and handicapped-accessible facilities.