Leonard Lance

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. ``When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. ``The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.''

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Goodlatte for his fine work on this important issue. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the REINS Act because it fulfills a promise Congress made to American businessowners to get onerous regulations off the backs of job creators. It sets a very reasonable standard. If a new regulation has an economic impact of $100 million or more, it needs to come to Congress for an up-or-down vote. Congress will then have a say. We will debate the merits, and then we will decide. The Obama administration handed down a record-breaking 600 major new regulations imposing hundreds of billions of dollars in costs on the U.S. economy and millions of hours of compliance busywork on the employers and employees across the country. All of that excessive red tape places a huge burden on small- and medium-sized businesses that create jobs in New Jersey, the State I represent, and across the Nation. I have toured quite a few businesses, and the consensus is clear: let American workers innovate, build, and create, and not spend time complying with regulations that are impractical and often a waste of time and money. The REINS Act is constitutional. It does not violate the Chadha doctrine because it does not permit Congress to overturn valid regulations. Also, a joint resolution satisfies the bicameralism and presentment requirements of the Constitution. The REINS Act will bring an important check against out-of-control Federal regulations and foster stronger economic growth. It is an important start to the agenda of the 115th Congress, and I urge all of our colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 11. The U.N. resolution, on the other hand, is vastly disproportionate and includes language that seems designed to provoke Israel. Categorizing the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, as occupied territory is entirely inappropriate. I believe that President Obama should have directed the United States to veto the U.N. resolution. Instead, our Ambassador sat silent. Abstaining on this vote handed a victory to the forces that wish to delegitimate Israel. This resolution erects a greater barrier between the two sides, hindering critical negotiations. The peace process must be negotiated bilaterally by Israel and the Palestinians with support, not provocation, by outside actors. In this new year and new Congress, we should act to reassert a position of strength on the world stage. We must stand by our allies, including our strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel. This country should have exercised its veto power as it has done before and thwarted this divisive anti-Israel effort. Please vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which will provide critical resources to address the needs of our waterway infrastructure directly affecting communities' economy and safety. Communities I represent have suffered from chronic flooding, and I am proud to have worked with municipal leaders in Cranford, Kenilworth, Maplewood, Millburn, Rahway, Springfield, and Union, New Jersey, to include authorization language in this legislation that will complete the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study. For years, these New Jersey communities have pursued this project based on its great merits that will protect life and property. I have toured these communities and seen firsthand how the solution must come from collaboration between local leaders, State entities, and the Federal Government, including the Army Corps of Engineers. This legislation gives the Army Corps the directive to get it done. This is how Congress should work, heeding the call of our constituents and building bipartisan consensus to make sure that this legislation passes. I congratulate all those responsible.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 21st Century Cures legislation. This bill provides significant investments to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments for millions of Americans. The passage of this legislation will protect and create American jobs and will ensure that the United States remains the global leader in biomedical innovation and discovery. The measure reforms and strengthens the country's mental health system and makes mental health a strong national priority. The legislation includes critical funding for States to prevent opioid abuse and provide the needed treatment for those suffering from this public health crisis. Reducing bureaucratic redtape, advancing lifesaving research, reforming our broken mental health system, and tackling opioid abuse in our communities will reduce healthcare costs and give many Americans new opportunities to live long, healthy, and productive lives. I thank Chairman Upton for his unparalleled leadership on this issue. It is an honor to have worked with him and all of our colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to have crafted this landmark legislation.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Iran Sanctions Extension Act. Now is not the time to ease up on the world's leading sponsor of terrorism. The Iran Sanctions Extension Act is an important piece of legislation that needs to be extended so that we can continue our fine work in this area. I thank Chairman Royce for offering this legislation that will extend Iranian sanctions for an additional 10 years. As has been stated, these sanctions will expire at the end of this year if Congress fails to act. It is imperative that we extend the current sanctions regime. This has been in place for quite some time, and this in no way affects the underlying agreement even though I am vigorously opposed to the underlying agreement. Let's send a message today that, despite what this administration may think regarding the continuation of the agreement, the Congress is united in tough sanctions. We will hold Tehran accountable for its human rights violations, its support of international terrorism, and its testing of illegal ballistic missiles. Sanctions work. Time and time again, U.S. sanctions have been a powerful force on the world stage and have given the U.S. leverage against some of the world's worst State actors. Let's not reward provocations that may have occurred already or provocations that may occur in the future. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and keep these sanctions in place. I commend the chairman, the ranking member, and the full committee; and if this legislation passes, I am hopeful that the President will sign it into law.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, my thanks to Chairman Burgess and Ranking Member Schakowsky for shepherding this bill through the subcommittee. This is an important bill to the consumers of this Nation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2669, the Anti-Spoofing Act, which I am proud to offer with my colleagues Grace Meng, a Democratic Member from the great Borough of Queens in New York State, and Joe Barton, Republican of Texas, the chairman emeritus of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. This bill cracks down on the national problem of caller ID spoofing. Caller ID spoofing occurs when a scammer calls and attempts to disguise his or her identity by manipulating the recipient caller's caller ID display. The scammer may be posing as an IRS agent, a police officer, or a representative from another governmental agency. After tricking people into picking up the line, the criminal then attempts to entice the other person into sharing personal information. To date, hundreds of thousands--might I suggest millions--have been defrauded, including veterans, immigrants, and senior citizens. In Somerset County, New Jersey, a county in which I represent the majority of the residents, scammers cloned the phone number of the Somerset County Sheriff's Office and impersonated the sheriff's staff in an effort to steal residents' personal information. I pay tribute to Sheriff Provenzano of Somerset County, New Jersey. He has been one of the leading advocates across the Nation regarding this legislation. The problem has gotten out of control. Millions of Americans continue to get ripped off by con artists and scammers who perpetrate this despicable crime. This disgraceful practice must end, and this consumer protection legislation goes a long way toward accomplishing that critical goal. The audacity of these criminals is eclipsed only by their ability to adapt to changing technologies. Unfortunately, since Congress passed the Truth in Caller ID Act in 2009--of course, all of us supported that--new technologies have enabled these criminals to scam consumers with increased ease and efficiency. This legislation is one step forward to ensure that governmental policies keep up with new technologies and keep up with these criminals. In the last 2 years since this legislation passed the House of Representatives unanimously, it appears that the problem has gone from one of a simple nuisance to a borderline epidemic. It is time to stop this disgraceful practice, and this legislation is aimed to do that. I believe it is a critical goal. The committee on which we all serve, the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Speaker, is the most productive in the House of Representatives. More legislation reaches the floor of this House from the Energy and Commerce Committee than any other committee in the House of Representatives, and more legislation reaches the President's desk from our committee than any other committee in either House of the Federal Congress. We on the committee, and certainly on the subcommittee chaired by Dr. Burgess, work in a bipartisan capacity. And I am so proud of this subcommittee and of the full committee. The American people want us to work together on the critical issues that confront the Nation, including the issue we are discussing now: ID spoofing. That is why I predict that this legislation will pass unanimously here and why I predict that this legislation will reach the President's desk 2.2 miles west down Pennsylvania Avenue. I want to thank those in the administration who support this legislation. I want to thank all of the members of the subcommittee and all of the members of the full Energy and Commerce Committee. I am confident that this legislation is in the best interest of the consuming public of the United States.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of overriding the President's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. This is our constitutional prerogative. We in Congress can override the veto of a President, and in this case a strong bipartisan majority disagrees with the President. Earlier today, the Senate of the United States voted 97-1 in favor of an override. It is right and just that the victims of the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, be able to pursue full justice in our courts of law. I am a lawyer, and I have worked with constitutional and statutory issues. I also represent a congressional district in New Jersey that lost 81 people on 9/11. Opposing views fear repercussions against the United States if this legislation becomes law, but the United States does not support, finance, or condone international terrorism. We are the Nation that historically has helped rid the world of evil, and we have nothing to fear from truth and justice. Nations around the world should recognize the fundamental justice in legal remedies against a terrorist network that killed nearly 3,000 Americans. It is our duty to provide the victims of 9/11 this legislative remedy by which they can seek the facts, and the Federal Government should be as transparent as possible with the evidence and the intelligence. The still grieving families of 9/11 deserve their day in court--they have waited long enough--and this narrowly tailored legislation will give them recourse for full justice and compensation. Mr. Speaker, any override of a Presidential veto is a serious and sober matter. I do not advocate an override lightly. I deeply respect the Office of the President of the United States. This President has never been overridden by the Congress. I believe, however, that an override is the better public policy in this momentous situation.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016. I thank Chairman Shuster for his championing this legislation and for including authorization language for the Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study in the bill. The Rahway River Basin Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study will create a lasting solution to protect the New Jersey municipalities that include Cranford, Kenilworth, Maplewood, Millburn, Rahway, Springfield, Union, and the surrounding areas from severe flooding. For years, these municipalities have pursued this project based on its great merits, and I have tried to be their champion at the Federal level. This is a critical role for Federal representatives: effectively helping municipal, county, and State officials to work with the Federal Government to ensure efficient services to the areas we represent. Throughout this entire process, local leaders have kept the focus on consensus and collaboration, and they have united around a solution that has strong public support. They deserve the completion of the study and the implementation of a plan that will protect life and property. I thank the Mayors' Council and local leaders for continuing to advocate on behalf of their communities. I certainly reiterate my thanks to Chairman Shuster. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership on this extremely important issue. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act. It is a sad day when the American people see their tax funds being given to the world's most notorious financier of international terrorism. This legislation puts an end to it. And it is taxpayer funds. That was the original purpose in the 1970s. Since then, the Iranian regime has sponsored state terrorism across the globe. The total now stands at $1.7 billion that this administration has handed over to Iran. And despite weeks of denial after denial, the administration has finally acknowledged that these cash shipments to Iran were leveraged for the release of four innocent Americans unlawfully held by Tehran. I translate the term ``leverage'' to mean ransom. We already know that the world is less safe based upon the nuclear agreement with Iran and that we are catering to Iran's demands. I believe that the $1.7 billion to Iran sets a dangerous precedent that a terrorist network convicted in our courts can escape compensating U.S. victims. There have been quite a few victims who were compensated in our courts, and those amounts of money have never been paid to the victims' families. The cash payments shipped in the middle of the night to Iran should instead have gone to the loved ones of those murdered by the Iranian regime. The bill would stop the flow of funds to the terrorist networks long supported by Iran. I fear it may be inevitable that these funds would make their way to some of the world's worst actors. It is a risk we shouldn't have taken, and this legislation would ensure that it cannot happen again not only regarding this administration--this administration is going out of office and there will be a new President and a new administration come January--but this legislation goes well beyond the remaining months in office of this administration. This is excellent legislation, regardless of which political party controls the White House, the executive branch, the State Department. All of us should honor the judgments that have been rendered in courts of law for those who have lost their lives in acts of terrorism where the responsibility has been adjudicated in our courts of law. And it is to that end that Chairman Royce and the Foreign Affairs Committee and many others of us in the Congress have been involved in this issue. The Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act is needed, and I urge its passage.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LANCE. My thanks to Chairman Hensarling, and my thanks, as well, to Congressman Poliquin for their tremendous leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, this is not about the underlying Iranian nuclear agreement, and nothing in this amendment and nothing in the Poliquin bill will change that agreement. Obviously, there is significant debate about the underlying agreement. I am a strong opponent of that, as was the majority here in the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, the other Chamber never voted on the issue because we could not reach a conclusion of debate on that issue. On this amendment, it is in our national security interest to be scrutinizing the assets that are held by senior Iranian political and military leaders so that we might know how those assets were acquired and how they are being spent. This amendment would add the name of the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, a position currently held by Ali Akbar Salehi, to a list of Iranian leaders who are named in this legislation. Given Iran's known desire for a nuclear weapons program and its clear ties to international terror, we should be monitoring the finances of the head of its nuclear program regardless of who he is. For years, the Iranian regime has been mired in institutionalized corruption; and the nexus of nuclear weapons, state-sponsored terrorism, money laundering, secret financial agreements, and mass pilfering from the Iranian people is cause for great alarm. Mr. Chairman, we need all of the tools at our disposal. Let's add the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to this legislation, and let's have the U.S. Treasury do all it can to investigate the finances of this regime. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment I am offering, and I certainly urge a ``yes'' vote on the underlying legislation that has been sponsored by Congressman Poliquin. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer this consumer protection measure along with my cosponsor, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy). The Consumer Review Fairness Act allows Americans to exercise their First Amendment rights regarding consumer experiences without fear of retribution. This issue comes right from the heart of the 21st century economy. It is easier than ever for consumers to make informed choices on which business or service to use by consulting Web sites and apps that publish crowdsourced reviews of local businesses and restaurants. Consumer reviews are a powerful informational tool because consumers place a high value on the truthful reviews of other consumers. The trouble is that a number of businesses have become frustrated by online criticism and some have employed the questionable legal remedy known as nondisparagement clauses to retaliate against consumers. These are often buried in fine print, fine print that even these glasses couldn't discern. The Consumer Review Fairness Act would void any nondisparagement clause in consumer contracts if that clause restricts consumers from publicly reviewing products or businesses accurately and would give the Federal Trade Commission the tools it needs to take action against businesses that insert these provisions into their contracts. It also would ensure companies are still able to remove false and defamatory reviews. And so it is narrowly tailored, but it is fairly tailored. A few months ago I visited Bovella's Pastry Shoppe in Westfield, New Jersey, in the district I serve here. Bovella's has the highest Yelp review of any bakery in that part of New Jersey. The good people at that bakery have earned reviews from their hard work and excellent consumer service. They get a lot of business from people who turn to Yelp for insight on the best bakery in town. This crowdsourcing system thrives because of its integrity. People trust it. Bad actors who bully consumers are ruining the system that helps small businesses across this country. I want to thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone and Dr. Burgess and Ranking Member Schakowsky for their leadership in moving this forward. I certainly thank my cosponsor, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy). I thank the entire Committee on Energy and Commerce staff and the subcommittee staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work on this legislation. This will protect the consuming public in a way that is really what we are trying to do in the 21st century because so much of what we do is based upon the Internet, based upon apps, and it is important that this Congress make sure that we are up to date in this regard. Please, let's pass this bill to the benefit of online consumers.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I have never been prouder of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee than I am on this issue. I congratulate Chairman Burgess and Ranking Member Schakowsky for their leadership on this issue, and certainly Mr. Welch for his leadership as well. I offer this resolution to highlight the importance of the Internet of things, also known as the Internet of everything. The Internet of things is the network of sensors and electronics in physical objects, ranging from household appliances, such as thermostats to manufacturing equipment. The Internet of things currently connects tens of billions of devices worldwide and assists consumers in nearly every aspect of their daily lives, including in the field of agriculture, education, energy, health care, public safety, security, and transportation, among many others. The lives of nearly every American are run more efficiently thanks to the Internet of things and the great advances in innovation here in the 21st century. Our role in Congress should be to help make the Internet of things thrive, to facilitate a Federal support system that empowers exciting new ideas. Ideas such as the 5G radio by Nokia Bell Labs in Murray Hill--Nokia has taken over Bell Labs, but, of course, Bell Labs is fabled in the history of this country and had been so for many, many years--the Smart Cities initiative by Qualcomm in Bridgewater--also in the district I represent--and Verizon in Basking Ridge are helping towns and cities maintain high standards of livability, resiliency, and sustainability by using IOT technology to help city planners create better qualities of life. Of course, as Chairman Burgess has indicated, healthcare applications in this area are very promising. They are patient centered and they are economically beneficial. This will be beneficial not only to patients but, of course, to the Medicare and Medicaid programs as well. According to the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the Internet of things has the potential to contribute anywhere from $4 trillion to $11 trillion to the economy over the course of the next several decades--this is an enormous increase--based upon innovation here in the 21st century. The resolution expresses the current and potential future benefits of the Internet of things. I hope that it will put Congress on record in working for its growth and success. This is really at the heart of what we should be doing in Congress in a bipartisan capacity: getting ahead of the curve on the future of technology in the United States, as the United States, we all hope, will continue to be the leader worldwide in this and other matters. That is why the Internet of things is so important. That is why I am so pleased to be involved with others in this issue. Mr. Speaker, I hope that this, of course, will pass unanimously, and I hope that it will be a harbinger for what we should doing in Congress in so many other areas as well.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Justice Against Foreign Terrorists Act sponsored by Mr. King of New York. As we approach the 15th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it is appropriate that we, in Congress, are finally authorizing that victims from that terrible day have the right to pursue full justice in our courts of law. I am a lawyer and I have worked with constitutional and statutory issues. This legislation does not convict any one person or any one nation, but it gives the loved ones of those who died recourse for full justice and compensation. New Jersey lost more than 700 residents in the attacks, 81 of them from communities I represent here in Congress. I know some of those names, and I know all of those communities. They deserve their day in court, and they deserve the assistance of the Federal Government in being as transparent as possible with the evidence and the intelligence. The truth is the truth, and it is time that we all know this. This measure passed the United States Senate with unanimous support, yet there are some who believe that the White House may threaten to veto the legislation, citing how it may compromise our relationship with certain other nations. This is backward logic. Those nations should recognize the fundamental justice and legal remedies against a terrorist network that killed more than 3,000 Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote. I am sure this will pass overwhelmingly, perhaps unanimously, in a bipartisan fashion.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we approach the somber anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, to honor the memory of the innocent people who perished on that terrible day and extend our continued prayers and sympathy to their loved ones. For 15 years, I have stood at firehouses and schools, churches and veterans halls, and heard the stories of bravery and heroism from that morning that forever changed America. New Jersey lost more than 700 residents in the attacks, 81 of them from communities I represent here in Congress. Each personal story is remarkable in its own way, offering a different memory or perspective on the events of September 11. In hearing stories from that day, Americans relive that morning, recalling where they were when they heard the news of the planes that struck the World Trade Center, the sickening realization that our Nation was under attack, and the tremendous heroism and self-sacrifice of so many in New York, at the Pentagon, and on a plane over Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Many of these stories are not new but need to be retold as a younger generation comes of age, that their neighbors--innocent people in their communities--were targeted in an act of war upon this Nation, and from such heinous acts came brave first responders, courageously initiating rescues, knowing their lives were in great danger, friends and coworkers helping each other to safety, and many young Americans who then answered a call to service to protect and defend the United States. It is our duty to instill in the generations that follow respect and honor for the lives lost that terrible day and the lives lost in defense of our Nation in the years that have followed. It is our duty here in Congress to protect this Nation, to provide for the common defense, and vividly to recall the pain of a wounded Nation so that we be aware always of what it takes to keep this Nation safe and free. The lives lost in the ensuing battles abroad have continued to try the foundation of our will. We have proven steadfast in the commitment to our values. Our freedom and liberty have been protected by brave men and women who selflessly answered the call of service by volunteering for military service. No matter the challenges we face, we must remember that our Nation is truly blessed. I ask all Americans today to pause and reflect on the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Please pray for the victims and honor their memory. Please pay tribute to the men and women who serve and defend us today against the dangers we still face. May God bless them, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4992, the United States Financial System Protection Act; and I thank Chairman Royce for offering the legislation today and for his tremendous leadership on this issue. Allowing Iran access to the U.S. dollar would mark an unprecedented concession to the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran has taken virtually no tangible actions to suggest that it is serious about dismantling its nuclear program or ending its decades-long ties to terrorism. Why should Iran be rewarded with coveted access to our currency? Last week, I offered an amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations Act that would make sure that the U.S. Treasury officials who might be attempting to act on this matter would not be permitted to do so--to change statutory law. This would go not only to this administration, but to future administrations as well. My amendment passed by a voice vote, and today's legislation and the previous bills go further in adding new sanctions to stop the administration's purchase of heavy water from Iran and to prevent any additional steps to appease Iran. This goes to the heart of the agreement, which was voted down in this House. It was never voted on in the other House because of cloture. Let us make sure that Iran is held accountable. Iran has done nothing to earn our trust. Let's not give away critical language in this regard. I urge a strong ``yes'' vote on Chairman Royce's legislation.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this conference report. It is a great step forward in the fight against the scourge of drug addiction. I was proud to serve on the conference committee that crafted this package, and I thank Chairman Upton and Chairman Grassley for their tremendous leadership on the issue. This measure includes language that I authored with my Democratic colleague, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of the Hudson Valley in New York State, that targets opioid addiction's strong ties to prescription drug abuse and the issue of overprescription. It is one part of a comprehensive plan that will make serious progress on this challenge that strains law enforcement and taxpayer resources and cuts too many lives tragically short. This package comes the same week we secured passage of a landmark overhaul of our Nation's mental health care system. These are major priorities of the American people, and this is how Congress should work, gaining ideas and insight from the constituencies across the Nation and working together in a bipartisan fashion to address the important issues confronting the United States. On this very sad day, given the horrific events in Dallas last night, we are reminded that a great many issues face our country. I hope the spirit of cooperation that secured this week's productivity will guide us on the other challenges we face as a nation. I want to work on what unites us in the United States and on the priorities of all Americans. This conference report is one of those priorities, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. LANCE

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, let me say that this is not designed against any one President. This would be put into statutory law, and it would proceed after this President leaves office. I believe that it is important that this fundamental principle--that Iran not have access to the U.S. dollar--should be in statutory law and not merely a matter of executive action. That is why I have proposed the amendment. I hope that all Members will consider the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to eliminate the potential of Iran's gaining access to the U.S. dollar. As Iran continues to violate international law with illicit ballistic missile tests, as it undermines U.S. foreign policy, and as it destabilizes the Middle East, the Obama administration may be willing to ease restrictions on Iran's access to the dollar and potentially reward Iran's international provocations with coveted access to world financial markets. We cannot allow this to happen. Since agreeing to the Iranian deal last year, the Obama administration has seemingly gone out of its way to appease Iran. Sanctions were lifted with little to show in the way of nuclear disarmament. The rogue regime is now selling oil on the international market, and Iran has received access to tens of billions of dollars held abroad and has signed deals worth over $100 billion in foreign investment. Allowing Iran to have access to the dollar would mark an unprecedented additional concession to the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Access to the dollar would be an undeserved reward to a country that tortures its own people, denies human rights to women, and has the blood of Americans and our allies on its hands. But in an effort to advance the nuclear agreement, I worry that the President may act unilaterally--as he has done so often in the past-- and permit the Treasury Department and other Federal entities to proceed with granting Iran the access to the dollar it so desperately wants. A vote for this amendment will eliminate that possibility. Mr. Chairman, let me say that this does not change what is currently the situation in this country. Last summer, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew testified that Iranian banks will not be able to clear U.S. dollars through New York, hold correspondent account relationships with U.S. financial institutions, or enter into financing agreements with U.S. banks. As the Secretary made clear, Iran, in other words, will continue to be denied access to the world's largest financial and commercial market. This amendment simply puts that promise into statutory law, and that is why I have proposed it. The Lance amendment will eliminate any possibility that we might move in the other direction. Mr. Chairman, I urge its adoption. I reserve the balance of my time.