Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice), chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, issued this statement on the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act. The remarks will be delivered during today’s debate.

“This is the strongest sanctions package Congress has ever considered. Its passage signals that our government is united in bipartisan opposition to Iran’s flagrant disregard of the United Nations and world community as it recklessly pursues a nuclear weapons program.

“Iran and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah encircle Israel and threaten US troops – as well as Sunni populations in the Middle East.

“Increased economic sanctions pit our strength against Iran’s weakness. And this package, which builds on recent UN and European Union actions, bans companies from selling refined petroleum, bans correspondent banking relationships with Iranian banks, and targets financial activities by the Revolutionary Guard or Iranian human rights abusers.

“It also authorizes divestment by state and local governments from companies involved in Iran’s energy sector.

“Kudos to Chairman Berman, who negotiated a very narrow Presidential waiver, and to the Treasury Department’s indomitable Stuart Levey, whose focus and talent over many years have shown lawmakers, literally, how to ‘follow the money’ and have brought us to this point.”