Michael McCaul

Mr. McCAUL

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

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, even after the Trump administration rightfully withdrew from the dangerous Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, the Biden administration entered office committed to pursuing a new nuclear deal with Iran. Throughout this administration's dealings with Iran, it was abundantly clear that Iran was taking advantage of the administration's blind commitment to negotiations just for the sake of negotiating. A nuclear Iran is not acceptable--full stop. However, throughout 2021 and 2022, the Biden administration continued to push negotiations even as Iran escalated its nuclear provocations. Iran suspended compliance with the IAEA Additional Protocol. Iran installed new advanced centrifuges. Iran increased its uranium stockpile toward enrichment. Iran refused to cooperate with an IAEA investigation. In fact, I met with the Director General of the IAEA at his office in Europe, and he said that the Iranians had a cyberattack on their office and stole all of their documents pertaining to their investigations dealing with compliance from Iran on the sites. That is not a sign of good faith. You can't negotiate with somebody like that. Still, they are intent on getting this nuclear deal done. It became very clear that they are desperate to reach a deal, even if it was a bad deal. The irony, Mr. Speaker, is this: The very individual charged by Congress and the administration, the special envoy to Iran, Mr. Malley, is under FBI investigation for violations of his security clearance. That is our top negotiator to Iran. My colleagues and I have been gravely concerned that this administration would lift Iranian sanctions in exchange for insufficient limitations on Iran's nuclear program. These concerns grew even more severe, again, after Rob Malley came under FBI investigation, which the State Department failed to notify Congress. When I invited him to testify about the Iran deal, I was told he was not available, and now we know why. It is deeply disturbing that the United States Government no longer trusts the one who is spearheading our negotiations with an enemy regime. We can't afford any strategic miscalculations when it comes to Iran. Again, as I said in the prior debate, deterrence is key, and you only deter and get peace through projecting strength, including strengthening our economic sanctions while they have eased them. Every dollar that goes to the Iranian regime in any form has the potential to be deadly. The events of this past weekend demonstrate that. Iran launched over 350 missile and drone attacks on our ally, Israel--unprecedented in history. Israel, the United States, and other partners intercepted 99 percent of these weapons. Iran is not 10 feet tall. That is why this legislation is so important. Congress and the American people need an opportunity to review any proposed plans to lift sanctions, especially the ones that Congress has mandated, on this rogue regime. I thank my good friend, Mr. Self, on the Foreign Affairs Committee, who is also from the great State of Texas, for this bill. This bill requires the President to report to Congress on any plans to terminate or waive sanctions on Iran. It codifies a process for Congress to conduct oversight of these proposed waivers and terminations. We have that power under Article I of the Constitution. Yet, when they waive sanctions that Congress passed, they are not notifying us. We deserve that right. We have a responsibility to keep the American people safe, and that requires the executive branch and Congress to work together to determine the national security interests of the United States. Congress must have a say in any attempts to broker any kind of deal with Iran. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, April 14, 2024. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Financial Services regarding H.R. 4691, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2023. I agree that the Committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4691 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward. The Committee also reserves the right to see appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any conference with the Senate involving this or similar legislation, and we request your support for any such request. Finally, as you mentioned in your letter, I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this bill be included in your Committee's report to accompany the legislation, as well as in the Congressional Record during floor consideration. Sincerely, Patrick McHenry, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1149, I call up the bill (H.R. 4691) to provide for congressional review of actions to terminate or waive sanctions imposed with respect to Iran, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self), a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of this bill.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I agree with some of the things my good friend has said. Diplomacy is extremely important. We deal with it on the committee all the time. It is called soft power. Then we have hard power. We sign off on foreign military weapons sales. Diplomacy at all costs needs to be tried, but when the diplomats fail, often we go to war or we have conflict. The question before us is twofold. One, has Iran negotiated in good faith such that we would both waive or not enforce or let expire sanctions, many of them passed by Congress? The second question is, are Article I authorities under the Constitution? All we are simply asking for is when we pass a sanction--or the administration does so--that they notify Congress. And I will tell you why this is important. For months I tried to get Robert Malley, our special envoy to Iran, into the committee to testify on this Iran deal, but guess what? He refused to come testify. Why? Because we then find out he was under investigation by the FBI for potential violation of his security clearance. This great Iran deal that they talk about has only brought Iran closer to a nuclear bomb, closer to weapons-grade uranium. They can go to 90 percent in days. If they get a nuclear warhead from Russia or North Korea, they have full capability, and they will become a nuclear state. We cannot let that happen. They failed to declare nuclear sites in Iran. They kicked out investigators from the IAEA. Then in one of the most horrific displays of bad faith in negotiations, Mr. Speaker, do you know what they did? They launched a cyberattack on the IAEA to steal their documents related to their investigations on the very sites that the JCPOA was supposed to allow them in to examine. Then they blocked the inspectors from having access to these sites. Now, I am all for negotiating. I am all for diplomacy. I don't think the Ayatollah is a good faith partner here, and I don't think he has our best interests at heart. They chant ``death to America,'' and ``death to Israel'' and call us ``Great Satan,'' and they call Israel ``Little Satan.'' They are closer to a bomb than they have ever been. All we are saying, Mr. Speaker, is before you waive sanctions that Congress passed, or not enforce sanctions, just let us know. I don't think that is a big deal. I mean, Malley wouldn't testify before Congress. We didn't know why because they were hiding it from us. They didn't want us to know about the FBI investigation until the press reported it. We found out from the press--not from the administration, but from the press. Let's look at some of the sanctions that they let expire and they have waived, and you tell me if that makes sense. The sanctions on energy, exporting energy to China, the majority going to China; we are allowing this axis of evil--the Ayatollah, Putin, and China--to work together with Iran exporting energy. Mr. Speaker, $80 billion from China went into Iran to fund the very missiles and rockets and drones that we saw last Saturday night. It was the first attack from Iran into Israel in history. Then they let the U.N. sanctions on exports to other countries for their missiles and drones to expire. Now, we have a bill to reinstate those sanctions. The very same drones and missiles were used to attack Israel last Saturday night, the very same drones and missiles that have been bought by Russia to kill Ukrainians. It is all interconnected. China is in this, the Ayatollah is in it, Putin is in it, and they are all profiting from Iran, who they provide technical expertise. Iran makes the stuff and the energy that they then buy from them to put the money in Iran to reign terror. I think it only fair that the American people through their Representatives under Article I have the opportunity to even know when they are doing this and not operate behind a veil of secrecy. When a Republican President gets into office, what will the Democrats say then if they are hiding things on sanctions and investigations? I think we will hear the same argument that we are making on this side. That is why this is not a partisan issue. This is about this institution under Article I. We have every right to know this, especially the sanctions that we pass in Congress. We always put a Presidential waiver in these things. Remember Nord Stream 2, we put a Presidential waiver. Nobody thought that a President would waive sanctions on a pipeline to put Europe in a state of dependency on Russian energy. Look how that one worked out. Did we know about it in advance? No. That didn't work out so well, did it? Right after Afghanistan, guess what happens? Putin, the Russian Federation went into Ukraine. Chairman Xi is watching it. He is looking at Taiwan. No. We have tried. We have tried acting in good faith with them. They are not acting in good faith with us, and the American people through its Representatives and the Congress, I say, have a right to know. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1149, I call up the bill (H.R. 6046) to designate Ansarallah as a foreign terrorist organization and impose certain sanctions on Ansarallah, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are here today because of the grievous errors of the Biden administration. The Biden administration's failed policies have emboldened the Houthi rebels at the expense of our regional partners. By projecting weakness on the world stage, this administration has invited aggression. The Houthis were previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization, or FTO, and a specially designated global terrorist organization. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued both designations in January 2021. This was in response to the Houthis' violent takeover of Yemen's capital, years of civil war, and wide-scale suppression of Yemeni civilians, as well as the hundreds of cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Houthis undertook this entire campaign of destruction with the backing of Iran, the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Regrettably, the incoming Biden administration removed the two terrorist designations, even though Houthis continued to traffic in terror. Removing these designations with no concessions only emboldened the Houthi rebels. After the designation was removed, the Houthis breached the former U.S. Embassy compound in Yemen. They forcibly detained several current and former U.S. Embassy locally employed staff and international aid workers, and Houthi cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia doubled compared to the previous year. The Houthis' terrorist activities reached new heights after Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. Since then, the Houthis, with the support of Iran and their Hezbollah proxies, have undertaken a deadly and disruptive campaign. They have launched over 100 missiles and drone attacks on global shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis' missile and drone attacks have killed mariners and have even sunk a ship. The Houthis have hijacked a ship and continue to hold its crew hostage. Iran and Hezbollah are, according to declassified U.S. intelligence, directly involved in the Houthi campaign against international shipping. These disruptions pose a serious threat to the global economy. Ships are rerouting around the Horn of Africa, adding approximately 10 days in additional travel time and up to $1 million in fuel costs. Moreover, insurance premiums for ships using the Red Sea have increased tenfold. The United States and our international partners have responded with military force to defend against the incoming Houthi attacks and, in some cases, undertaken strikes on Houthi military infrastructure in Yemen. We need to be exerting all forms of pressure and deterrence on the Houthis to stop these attacks. We cannot ignore the Houthis' true nature. Their slogan, Mr. Speaker, is: ``Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam.'' They are a terrorist organization and must be designated as such. This will ensure that all forms of support to the Houthis are subject to sanctions or criminal penalties. While the Biden administration reimposed the specially designated global terrorist designation, it has substantial carve-outs that weaken the impact, essentially rendering it useless. The stakes are too high, Mr. Speaker. One can only think about last Saturday night when Iran fired over 300 missiles and drones into Israel. It is the first time in history that rockets have been fired out of Iran into the State of Israel. We must take action, and that is why this bill directs the Secretary of State to redesignate the Houthis as an FTO with no exceptions and no carve-outs. The Houthis are waging an all-out war on global commerce and freedom of navigation, and Iran is bankrolling them. If the United States and international community do not respond, we are, in essence, yielding to the demands of the terrorists. We are emboldening them and empowering them. The Biden administration's weakness invited further Houthi aggression. Now it is up to the Congress to act and preserve our national security. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, March 1, 2024. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: I write regarding H.R. 6046. the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act. Provisions of this bill fall within the Judiciary Committee's Rule X jurisdiction, and I appreciate that you consulted with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee agrees that it shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. The Committee takes this action with the understanding that forgoing further consideration of this measure does not in any way alter the Committee's jurisdiction or waive any future jurisdictional claim over these provisions or their subject matter. We also reserve the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees in the event of a conference with the Senate involving this measure or similar legislation. I ask that you please include this letter in your committee's report to accompany this legislation or insert this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 6046 on the House floor. I appreciate the cooperative manner in which our committees have worked on this matter, and I look forward to working collaboratively in the future on matters of shared jurisdiction. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Jim Jordan, Chairman.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the author of this bill.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, let me just say I learned one thing in my 20 years here and as a history major, as well. It repeats itself. If you message weakness, that invites aggression, conflict, and war. If you project strength, you have peace. Whether it be Israel, whether it be Ukraine, whether it be China and their ambitions with Taiwan, we are projecting weakness. We are seeing around the world our global hot spots. The world is on fire now, Mr. Speaker, fires lit by a policy of appeasement. When they lifted the FTO designation on the Houthi rebels, there is a direct cause and effect. I respect my good friend from the other side of the aisle, but messaging counts. Deterrence does count. What happened after the Biden administration lifted the terrorist designation? We had crossed borders on Saudi Arabia that doubled to over 400 attacks, more than 180 on international shipping, and they are shutting down the Red Sea and commerce. We are only emboldening, and unfortunately, the policy in the Middle East has always been to appease and accommodate Iran so that maybe Iran will one day sit down so we can break bread and have this glorious Iran deal. I am an idealist and an optimist, but I am also a realist and pragmatic in my worldview. That was not going to happen. What have we seen when the Biden administration lifted sanctions on energy? We have seen $80 billion in energy sold to China; $80 billion going to Iran to kill, for terror operations through their proxies; $80 billion to send missiles, rockets, and drones to Russia to kill Ukrainians. It is all connected. Those three are our adversaries and our enemies, all three of them. This is not the time to be sending a message of weakness to the largest state sponsor of terror, for to do so will only invite more aggression. We also have waived and let expire sanctions on the drones and missiles manufactured by Iran. Let's think about that. That just went away. So, guess what? Iran can now sell their drones and missiles wherever they want, putting more money into Iran for their terror operations. I can go on and on. We know what is happening there. We saw what happened last Saturday, the reign of terror. Thank God the United States provided the moneys for the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow, which brought down 99 percent of these attacks. Ninety-nine percent of these attacks were actually brought down, stopped, and intercepted because of this partnership against terror. Mr. Speaker, to our servicemembers defending freedom of navigation right now in the Red Sea against the threat of Houthi rockets that they intercept every day, for the other side to say it is not connected to Iran just defies our U.S. intelligence community. We know exactly where it is coming from. They are the proxies. Iran, the Ayatollah, is the head of the snake and the proxies are the tentacles. It is time to deal with the tentacles, and it is also time to cut the head of the snake off. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, my vote card was not working on the first vote on March 11, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 79.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, Secretary Mayorkas took an oath to protect our Nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic. He has violated that oath and the public trust. Today, I intend to personally uphold the oath of office that I swore to my country. In my 25 years of dealing with the border as a Federal prosecutor and the former chairman of this committee, I have never seen it this broken. That is because of one man's actions: his refusal to enforce the law, his rescission of successful policies like remain in Mexico, and his breach of public trust. His dereliction of duty has led to 8 million encounters, 300 on the terror watch list, and 2.3 million aliens released into the interior, enough to fill 13 States. Another 200,000 young Americans have died due to fentanyl poisoning. These numbers are clear. Secretary Mayorkas is the architect of destruction, and the legal justification for his impeachment is strong. In the Supreme Court decision The United States v. The State of Texas, the Court examined a statute that mandated the government shall take into custody any alien that has committed an aggravated felony. It is not discretionary. It is mandatory. By failing to uphold this law, he has released dangerous and violent criminals into our communities and has put every American life at risk. Supreme Court Justice Story in 1833 said: ``Where a lord admiral has neglected to safeguard the seas, that shall be deemed an impeachable offense.'' That is exactly the case we have here. Secretary Mayorkas, charged with the defense of air, land, and sea, has failed to defend our borders. The Founders clearly believed impeachable offenses included neglect of duty, violation of public trust, and injury to society. When asked before the Supreme Court if impeachment is a proper remedy, President Biden's own solicitor general said: In the face of a dramatic abdication of statutory responsibility by the executive branch, such steps would be warranted. Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of those impeachable offenses. He is destroying the fabric of this Nation. Americans agree. Today, I will proudly stand up for our Nation by voting to remove him from office.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, January 5, 2024, my district lost a pillar of our community. While we mourn the loss of L.M. ``Buddy'' Preuss, III, we know his legacy will live on for years to come in Giddings, Texas, and beyond. Born and raised in Giddings, Buddy was hired as the editor for the Giddings News at just 19 years old. He went on to own and operate the Giddings Times and News, providing a reliable news service to the citizens of his county for more than five decades. Buddy's life is a true inspiration. A member of the Giddings chamber of commerce, he constantly sought ways to contribute to his community's welfare. Buddy was also a remarkable husband to the love of his life, Louise, and father to his five children. And above all, Buddy was a man of sincere faith. He held on to hope and his love for the Lord, even during his battle with cancer. While he is missed, I find comfort in knowing he is rejoicing in the presence of God, finally pain free. Buddy was so much more than a reporter, businessman, and community leader--he was a dear friend to many, including myself. My stops in Giddings certainly won't be the same without him. Rest in peace, Buddy.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, On Friday, January 5, 2024, my district lost a pillar of our community. While we mourn the loss of L.M. ``Buddy'' Preuss III, we know his legacy will live on for years to come in Giddings, Texas, and beyond. Born and raised in Giddings, Buddy was hired as the editor for the Giddings News at just 19 years old. He went on to own and operate the Giddings Times and News, providing a reliable news service to the citizens of his county for more than five decades. Buddy's life is a true inspiration. A member of the Giddings chamber of commerce, he constantly sought ways to contribute to his community's welfare. Buddy was also a remarkable husband to the love of his life, Louis, and father to his five children. And above all, Buddy was a man of sincere faith. He held on to hope and his love for the Lord, even during his battle with cancer. While he is missed, I find comfort in knowing he is rejoicing in the presence of God, finally pain free. Buddy was so much more than a reporter, businessman, and community leader--he was a dear friend to many, including myself. My stops in Giddings certainly won't be the same without him. Rest in peace, Buddy.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, we are here today because the Biden administration cut a dangerous, reckless hostage deal that puts a price on every American head all over the world. We have a responsibility to the American people to repair this damage. First, let me say that I am relieved that Americans held hostage by Iran are safely at home. They have been through a terrible ordeal and should never have been imprisoned in the first place. As part of this deal, the administration dropped charges against five Iranian criminals charged with endangering our national security, including by aiding Iran's nuclear program. At Iran's request, the administration waived sanctions on $6 billion of Iranian funds, which have been frozen in South Korea to allow that that money be transferred and funneled to a bank account in Doha, Qatar--an undisclosed bank, Madam Chair. Under this deal, Iran is getting access to $1.2 billion per blue passport, per American citizen. It is obvious that this agreement incentivizes more hostage taking. The administration is claiming this money can only be used for humanitarian purchases like food and medicine. We all know that Iran has a long history of sanctioned evasion and money laundering. It means that we cannot truly know where the funds end up or how they will be used. If we had any doubt about Iran's intentions, look no further than DOJ's 2019 indictment under the previous administration against a Turkish bank. This bank played a central role in facilitating billions of dollars' worth of fraudulent Iranian transactions. These transactions were manipulated to look like humanitarian expenses when, in fact, no such purchases took place. This is nothing new, but let's look at Iran's own words. Iran's President Raisi bragged to the world that Iran would spend the $6 billion ``wherever we need it.'' What more evidence do we need, Madam Chair, than that? This is not going for humanitarian purposes. It is going toward terrorism--wherever we need it. Money is fungible, as everybody knows. Given Iran's access to these funds for any purpose frees up money for its malign activities, including its support to proxies like we saw on October 7 to Hamas. Blocking money to Iran is the most consequential thing we can do here in this Congress to stop Iran's financing of terrorism to Hamas and other proxies to help keep our troops safe who are now under fire from Iran-backed militias. After Hamas' brutal October 7 massacre of over 1,200 innocent people in Israel, the largest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust, Madam Chair, and over 70 attacks on our forces by Iran-backed proxies this fall, no one can deny Iran's role as the world's leading state sponsor of terror. Put simply, the Middle East is on fire, and Iran's proxies are becoming more aggressive every day with increasing attacks, threatening to throw the Middle East into complete destabilization. Now Iran's destabilization influence extends beyond the Middle East. They continue to supply deadly drones to Russia, supporting their unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine. Iran is going to keep throwing tens of millions of dollars to Hamas and other terror groups propping them up with our adversaries, like China, Russia, and North Korea, with weapons. We need to take every measure possible to stop Iran from giving its proxies another dime. Madam Chair, after the October 7 attack by Hamas in which they took 240 hostages, it is absolutely undeniable this hostage deal was a catastrophic mistake. Madam Chair, we met with some of the families yesterday, and it was one of the most horrific experiences to hear what their loved ones are going through right now in Gaza. Americans held hostage, who we have still not been able to get out, they are in absolute hell right now, in darkness. The narrative was something before October 7. Now, after October 7, they are trying to hide from this deal because they know what they did was wrong, and they know what they are doing is funding terror in the Middle East. This body, this Congress needs to repair that damage. That is why my bill, the No Funds For Iranian Terrorism Act, imposes new sanctions to permanently prevent the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds covered under the 2023 hostage deal; which, by the way, Madam Chair, I haven't seen this deal. The administration says there is a deal. They have not provided that deal to me nor to my colleagues, to my knowledge. One thing is clear, this is a moment of moral clarity. With such instability in the region, the last thing we need to do is to give Iran access to $6 billion to be diverted to more Iranian-sponsored terrorism. We must sanction anyone who enables the transfer or processing of transactions of these funds, period. Put very simply and succinctly, I can't imagine how anybody can vote against this bill. How can anybody support $6 billion going into Iran when we know, both in classified space, which we can't talk about here, but in the declassified space, exactly who was behind October 7. Iran is the head of the snake, and the snake had its tentacles all throughout the Middle East: in Gaza with Hamas; in Yemen with the Houthi rebels; and in Iran and Syria with Iran-backed militias, who, by the way, Madam Chair, are hitting our troops every day. They are under fire by Iran. We are going to give them $6 billion? Now, the other side will say that is Iran's money. It is sanctioned money. This administration chose to lift the sanctions on the $6 billion. My bill says, no, Mr. President. We, in the Congress, say no to this policy. We are going to put sanctions on the money so Iran cannot get access to this to fund more terrorism, more killing of innocent Jewish people. I don't have to go into graphic detail of what happened on October 7, but we all saw the Hamas video and the gruesomeness of it. I, Madam Chair, will not sit by idly and allow this to happen while Americans are under fire and the Jewish people are being killed by these terrorists. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record for H.R. 5961.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, let me say to my dear friend from New York, I have great admiration and respect for him. He is right, we do work things out. Of all the committees, we are the most bipartisan committee, and it is important that we speak with one voice as a Nation to the world. However, as we also have agreed, there are times we just can't get to an agreement. This is one of those times. I just can't in good faith support the administration's position on this. The gentleman asked a couple questions about why didn't this pass on suspension, and that is always our goal. The fact is that five Members on his side of the aisle voted in support of this bill. I think what we are going to find on the vote on this floor today is you are going to have more than five Members vote for this bill. Mr. Speaker, I admire him and his support for the President. I would probably do the same in his case, but I have to, with all due respect, disagree. What would I say to the five American families? I would say: Thank God your loved ones are home. I would say: We are with you. I don't think this is just about the five American hostages. There is something else going on that just doesn't make sense. Mr. Chairman, you have five innocent Americans exchanged for five indicted Iranians on charges related to national security. That alone is a bad deal. We talk about negotiations--that is not a good negotiation. Mr. Chairman, if you throw $6 billion on top of this--what is that all about? I have to ask the question: Why was this money that was frozen in a South Korean bank transferred to an undisclosed Doha bank account to then be made available for humanitarian purposes to Iran? What they will say is: Well, it is still frozen. Why was the money transferred to an undisclosed Doha bank account? If it was for humanitarian purposes, why couldn't the South Korean bank transfer it? I will tell you why it was transferred to the Doha bank account--and we don't even know the name of the bank, Mr. Chairman. It was transferred at the request of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Why did they want that? They know that they can get access to the Doha bank account. They know that in Qatar they are going to be more friendly to them than the South Koreans. This didn't happen by accident, it happened by design. That is precisely why the money was money laundered to this other bank account to funnel into Iran. For what purpose, humanitarian? I get that. I don't doubt my good friend from New York's heart and sincerity. He believes this. Nevertheless, facts are stubborn things. Under the previous administration, a bank was prosecuted for the same scheme that this administration is perpetuating. A Turkish bank--this is from the Department of Justice Public Affairs Office--was facilitating transactions to appear to be purchases of food and medicine by Iranian customers in order to appear to fall within the so- called humanitarian exception. Mr. Chair, don't take my word for this. Take the President of Iran's word for this: I will do whatever I want with the money. Let's be clear-eyed and sober about this. Let's not be naive about putting $6 billion into Iran at this critical time, Mr. Chairman, after October 7, the bloodiest day of killing Jews since the Holocaust. This is why their narrative is changing. Now, it is like: But the President of Iran hasn't asked for the money yet. And by the way, it is frozen. Then why did you transfer it to the Doha Bank account? Mr. Chairman, I will tell you why. It is because Iran requested it. The idea that Iran is not going to ask for this money, I have to say, with all due respect, is incredulous. Of course, they want this money. The question is: Why hasn't it been transferred already? Do you know what, Mr. Chairman? The answer is October 7. That is why it hasn't been transferred. They got caught with their pants down. Now, they realize: Oh, my God, we can't transfer this money. Think of the optics here. This is going to look really bad. There is another thing that is very nefarious going on here. There is some deal going on, Mr. Chairman, that we don't know about, and we have every right of oversight. They won't call things treaties because the Senate won't confirm them. They call them deals. What is going on? It is not just about the hostages, and thank God they are home. Let me tell the families: God bless them. Nevertheless, there is something else going on here. There is an undercurrent of another deal going on, and it is the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear agreement. That is why the money was transferred. In my judgment, it is to facilitate another deal with Iran. The irony of all ironies, Mr. Chairman, is the Special Envoy for Iran is now under investigation by the FBI for violations of his security clearance. The very man negotiating the JCPOA, the Iran deal, is under investigation by the FBI for violating his national security clearance. You can't make this up, Mr. Chairman. You really can't make this up. He talked about the Presidential waiver. We said that the whole point of this bill is to ensure they cannot use the $6 billion unless they do two things: one, cease their support for international terrorism, and, two, stop their nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction programs. This bill doesn't undercut our leverage; it turns this money into leverage to stop their most dangerous activities. I think this is a bad deal. I think that the underlying intent is something more secretive. Mr. Chairman, I have to ask the question: Has any Member of Congress seen this deal that we are talking about? Has the gentleman from New York seen this hostage deal with Iran? I haven't seen it. I haven't seen it, classified or not. Where is the deal? Why won't the administration present the deal to the Congress pursuant to our oversight responsibilities? That is transparency. That is why we introduced the bill because Congress has every right on behalf of the American people, before the $6 billion was transferred into Iran, to see what the deal is. We met with these hostage families yesterday, and it is brutal. I was in the kibbutz at the Gaza border in southern Israel, Kfar Azza. They went into the daycare center and killed the children I saw there. They decapitated them, and they killed everybody I met in the kibbutz. I can't look at these families of the victims or the families of the hostages in good faith. I cannot look them in the eye and say: Do you know what? I support your efforts to get your loved ones home. But guess what? I also support this deal that the President has decided to do to put $6 billion into the Islamic Republic of Iran, the largest state sponsor of terror and the very country responsible for the Hamas attacks killing more Jews than I have seen in my lifetime. My father was a bombardier on a B-17 in World War II. He bombed the Nazis. He saw the Holocaust in his lifetime. I never thought I would see anything like that in my lifetime, but guess what, Mr. Chairman? This is the largest killing since the Holocaust. I can't look those families in the eye, Mr. Chairman, and tell them that I am going to support this deal to add additional money for terrorism, especially $6 billion. This is not about the five Americans. We released five Iranians guilty of espionage, in my judgment. This is about the undercurrent of a deal that we don't know about. They are secretive about it, and they need to come forward to the American people through the Congress and let us know what that deal was. Nevertheless, I, for one, will not sit here in this Chamber and allow this to happen. That is why if they won't do it, then we will. Congress will stop this money from going into Iran not just for politics and not even for the American people but for the victims of terrorism around the world, especially the people of Israel. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Mike Garcia), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.