Sanctions

Bayh, Lieberman, and Kyl Call for Prompt Final Passage of Bill by Full Senate

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) issued the following statement today, following the unanimous passage by the Senate Banking Committee of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2009:    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Congressman Howard L. Berman (CA-28), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (H.R. 2194):

“The committee will mark up the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act on Wednesday, October 28. By then it will be nearly six full months since I introduced this legislation, now cosponsored by 327 Members.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- The United States House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1327, the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009, of which Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) is a cosponsor. The bill gives federal authority to state and local governments that want to divest their public pension funds from foreign companies with more than $20 million invested in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill also removes legal barriers that would prevent mutual fund and corporate pension fund managers from cutting ties with these companies.    » read more »

Overwhelmingly bipartisan bill divests from Iran's Energy Sector

10/14/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Rep. Eric Massa voted to help pass the overwhelmingly bipartisan Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009. This bill, which passed by a vote of 414-6, is designed to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector. This is just one step in the overall effort to hold those that enable Iran accountable.    » read more »

Washington, DC, Oct 13 - On Tuesday, Congressman Scott Murphy applauded the passage of the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009, which authorizes state and local governments to divest their pension funds from companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill, HR 1327, targets companies that provide at least $20 million in credit or investment in Iran’s energy sector. The bill also gives approval for state and local governments to enforce similar local laws that have already been enacted before the bill takes effect.    » read more »

Washington, Oct 13 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a long time advocate for peace and nuclear abolition, was today the only Member of Congress to speak out against H.R. 1327 - Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009.

“In 1996, Congress passed the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act which sanctioned foreign investment in Iran’s energy sector. There are those who have said it didn’t accomplish much. There are those who are now saying, that if we move forward with sanctions it would undermine the interests of nations, like China and Russia, which the U.S. needs to work with in order to bring Iran into the international community in a way that promotes international security.    » read more »

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.    » read more »

Administration to Start Negotiations with Iranian Government Thursday

September 29, 2009 -- Today Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced he is working on a bill to expand the President’s ability to sanction Iran as the United States heads towards negotiations with that country. The Senate Banking Committee has jurisdiction over financial and economic sanctions.

“If Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons capability, it would pose a significant threat to peace and security in the Middle East, especially to our close ally Israel,” said Dodd. “That is a threat to both national security and global stability – and it cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged.”    » read more »

Senators urge their colleagues to act quickly in considering and passing this important legislation

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on Tuesday called on their colleagues to quickly approve their legislation, “The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act,” which renews sanctions against the Burmese junta.

The McConnell/Feinstein bill calls for the renewal of sanctions against the Burmese regime, which include an import ban on Burmese goods entering the U.S. and visa restrictions on officials from the dictatorial regime – the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Dick Lugar joined 16 other Republican and Democratic Senators on a bill introduced yesterday easing U.S. trade restrictions to Cuba, the Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009, S. 1089. The bill would help U.S. farmers and ranchers export their products to Cuba by allowing timely and direct cash payments for agricultural goods.

The bill also requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. Additionally, the bill lifts the current travel ban, allowing U.S. citizens and legal residents to travel to Cuba, and it eases restrictions on exports of medicines and medical devices.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) joined a bipartisan group of fifteen Senators to introduce legislation easing travel and trade restrictions on Cuba.

"I have long said that trade with Cuba is an opportunity the United States cannot ignore," Senator Roberts said. "It is in the best economic and national security interests of the United States."

Many of the provisions in the bill, S. 1089, the "Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009," are similar to legislation Senator Roberts has supported in the past including:    » read more »

April 15, 2009 -- The Administration has released the names of three Mexican organizations against which the President has decided to impose sanctions pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (the "Kingpin Act") (21 U.S.C. 1901-1908, 8 U.S.C. 1182). Kingpin Act targets, on a worldwide basis, significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their organizations, and operatives.

Background    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of 48 Senators, lead by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ), today, asked the President to support an international arms embargo against Burma. In a letter to the White House, the Senators urged the President to press the UN Security Council to impose sanctions and to continue to support the efforts of thousands of Burmese citizens fighting for democratic change.    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two bills, introduced by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), to provide federal support for state and local divestment efforts in Sudan passed the House as part of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007. The bills called for economic restrictions against the Sudanese regime supporting genocide in Darfur. The legislation now goes to the President for signature.    » read more »

December 12, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two bills introduced by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to provide federal support for state and local divestment efforts in Sudan unanimously passed the Senate as part of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007. The bills called for economic restrictions against the Sudanese regime supporting genocide in Darfur.    » read more »