WASHINGTON, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined a strong majority on the Senate Banking Committee to pass the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act. The bill, passed by a vote of 19-2, would increase economic pressure on Iranian leaders by imposing new sanctions on companies that do business with Iran, providing more resources to combat terrorist financing and enabling state and local governments to move forward on divestment from Iran.
“Today, the Senate Banking Committee further sharpened the choice before Iran’s ruling mullahs: Suspend their illegal uranium enrichment program, which is nothing more than a pathway to a nuclear weapon, or face greater diplomatic isolation and more restrictive economic sanctions,” said Senator Casey. “The legislation reported out of the Committee today will provide the international community greater leverage in advance of a critical meeting with Iranian representatives this weekend in Geneva. The United States should utilize all tools available to address a serious threat to our national security and that of our allies in the Middle East and Europe.”
The bill passed today by the Banking Committee contains elements of two bills cosponsored by Senator Casey: the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act and the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act. Senator Casey has also been supportive of efforts by Rep. Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania to ensure the divestment of Commonwealth funds from companies operating and/or investing in Iran and Sudan.
At the end of last year, Senator Casey outlined his views on the threat posed by the Iranian regime and how the United States can respond in an effective manner. He called upon the United States to take the lead in a concerted campaign to coerce Iran to change course and end its illicit nuclear activities and its support for extremist groups across the Middle East. To achieve these objectives, Senator Casey called for an integrated U.S. strategy based upon diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions and measures to cut Iran off from the global financial system.
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“Today, the Senate Banking Committee further sharpened the choice before Iran’s ruling mullahs: Suspend their illegal uranium enrichment program, which is nothing more than a pathway to a nuclear weapon, or face greater diplomatic isolation and more restrictive economic sanctions,” said Senator Casey. “The legislation reported out of the Committee today will provide the international community greater leverage in advance of a critical meeting with Iranian representatives this weekend in Geneva. The United States should utilize all tools available to address a serious threat to our national security and that of our allies in the Middle East and Europe.”
The bill passed today by the Banking Committee contains elements of two bills cosponsored by Senator Casey: the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act and the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act. Senator Casey has also been supportive of efforts by Rep. Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania to ensure the divestment of Commonwealth funds from companies operating and/or investing in Iran and Sudan.
At the end of last year, Senator Casey outlined his views on the threat posed by the Iranian regime and how the United States can respond in an effective manner. He called upon the United States to take the lead in a concerted campaign to coerce Iran to change course and end its illicit nuclear activities and its support for extremist groups across the Middle East. To achieve these objectives, Senator Casey called for an integrated U.S. strategy based upon diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions and measures to cut Iran off from the global financial system.
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