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Rep. Gutierrez Speaks in Support of Iran Nuclear Agreement


“Every security expert I trust – like Colin Powell – supports this deal and almost every former government official I deeply distrust – like Vice President Dick Cheney – opposes this agreement.”

Washington, DC –-(ENEWSPF)–September 11, 2015.  Today, Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of the Iran nuclear agreement during the debate to symbolically approve or disapprove of the deal.  Among other reasons for supporting the international agreement, the Congressman said, “Every security expert I trust – like Colin Powell – supports this deal and almost every former government official I deeply distrust – like Vice President Dick Cheney – opposes this agreement.”  Rep. Gutiérrez, a Member of the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, has been a vocal supporter of the agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program and has been working to garner the support of other Democrats for the proposal.

Rep. Gutiérrez went on to say:

The power and position of the United States as a world leader brought our allies to the table.  It achieved an outcome our country working alone could not achieve.  It is not something the Europeans, the Russians, the Chinese, or even the United Nations could have achieved.  It is not something sanctions alone could achieve.  And not something that war alone could achieve. 

The video of today’s speech is here: https://youtu.be/tWO0lKJTOA0

The Congressman wrote an op-ed for The Hill newspaper in July with Rep. John Yarmouth of Kentucky, which was entered into the record: “Iran nuke deal is good for America and for peace,” The Hill, July 29, 2015, http://bit.ly/1DOvZEV

The text of the Congressman’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, is below.

Rep. Gutiérrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. 

Rep. Gutiérrez, Iran Speech 09/11/15

Mr. Speaker:

I have a proud record, a record as strong as any Member of Congress in supporting Israel.  And it is because of this support that I back the deal that the President and our allies have negotiated. 

If I thought that this agreement made the State of Israel more vulnerable, I would not support it, but that is not the case. 

Every security expert I trust – like Colin Powell – supports this deal and almost every former government official I deeply distrust – like Vice President Dick Cheney – opposes this agreement.

This is one of the most detailed international agreements of its kind in memory and it was no small task of American diplomacy, statesmanship and good old fashioned negotiating that brought the deal to reality.

The power and position of the United States as a world leader brought our allies to the table. 

It achieved an outcome our country working alone could not achieve. 

It is not something the Europeans, the Russians, the Chinese, or even the United Nations could have achieved. 

It is not something sanctions alone could achieve.

And not something that war alone could achieve. 

The United States working with our friends — and in some cases our rivals — brought about this end to Iran’s nuclear weapons program with an agreement for verifiable, enforceable, effective curbs on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and it is in Iran’s interest to abide by the agreement. 

With this one step forward, the U.S. has helped erase our record of international shortsightedness.

It gets us back on track as a leader who leverages our economic power, our military power, our powers to persuade and compromise and bring people together.

There are not many times in a person’s congressional career — or in the course of history, for that matter — when a person can cast a vote literally for peace or war. 

Voting to support the Iran agreement is a vote to give peace a chance.

Put diplomacy at the top of our agenda. Stand up for our men and women in uniform and their families and our nation by avoiding war.

Let us support a deal that is good for Israel, good for America, good for peace, and good for the world.

Source: www.gutierrez.house.gov

 

 


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