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I’m
writing with extremely good news, as three prominent members of Congress have
just announced that they intend to vote in opposition to the deal with
Iran.
Moments ago, Rep.
Steve Israel (D-NY), a key member of the House Democratic Leadership, Rep.
Nita Lowey (D-NY), the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations
Committee, and Rep.
Ted Deutch (D-FL), the ranking Democrat on the Middle East Subcommittee of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee each released statements outlining their
positions against the agreement.
Rep. Israel voiced his concerns about
key elements of the deal. “I’m going to vote against the Iran deal,” he said. “I
tried very hard to get to yes. But at the end of the day, despite some positive
elements in the deal, the totality compelled me to oppose it … I can’t cast my
vote based on hypotheticals. I have to base my vote on what's in my
heart.”
Click
here to read more about Rep. Steve Israel's announcement.
“In my
judgment, sufficient safeguards are not in place to address the risks associated
with the agreement,” Rep. Lowey wrote. “Congress’ role has been invaluable, in
partnership with the administration, in implementing the crippling sanctions
that brought Iran to the table. I remain hopeful that the administration and
Congress, in concert with our P5+1 and regional allies, can prevent Iran from
obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, I cannot support this agreement before
Congress.”
Click
here to read the entire statement from Rep. Nita Lowey.
Rep. Deutch
echoed these same concerns. “Too many issues I have long raised as essential to
any nuclear deal with Iran are not adequately addressed in this agreement,” he
wrote. “I will vote against it when Congress reconvenes in September … After a
decade in public life working to stop Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons,
I cannot support a deal giving Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief — in
return for letting it maintain an advanced nuclear program and the
infrastructure of a threshold nuclear state.”
Click
here to read Rep. Ted Deutch's op-ed.
As the details of this deal
surface and are scrutinized by members of Congress, your persistent engagement
with senators and representatives will be critical to ensuring broad bipartisan
majorities understand the importance of opposing the agreement.
Please
continue to email
and call
members of Congress, and urge that they follow Reps. Lowey, Israel and Deutch in
insisting on a better agreement.
Thank you for your hard work at this
pivotal moment for the United States, Israel, and our allies around the
world.
Sincerely,
Brian Shankman
Director of Regional Affairs
and Development
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