House Approves Kyl-Collins Measure Barring U.S. Funds to Companies that Supply Gasoline to Iran

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representative today approved a measure that bars companies that sell or ship gasoline to Iran from receiving funds to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. U.S. Senators Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who authored the measure, applauded today’s action and noted the message sent by Congress on the day the Obama Administration begins its engagement with the Iranians in Geneva, Switzerland.

"It is fitting that today, as the President begins his strategy of engagement with the Iranians, legislation is on its way to his desk containing a provision we authored that prohibits the U.S. government from buying oil from companies that sell or ship gasoline to Iran,” said Senators Kyl and Collins. “This provision sends a message to companies that put profits over security – you can do business in our $13 trillion economy or Iran's $250 billion economy.”

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According to the U.S. Department of Energy, while Iran is a major exporter of crude oil, it has limited refinery capacity for the production of light fuels, and consequently imports approximately 40 percent of its gasoline supply. "Time is running out for Iran to give up its illegal nuclear weapons program, which includes its uranium enrichment sites at Natanz and Qom. The patience of Congress is at an end."

The measure was included as part of the conference report for the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2010.

The bill will be sent to the Senate for its approval before being sent to the President.

The United States along with the other five members of the United Nations Security Council today began talks with the Iranian regime in Geneva, Switzerland.

Source: Senator Jon Kyl