Rep. Susie Lee and Rep. Michelle Steel Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Solidify Sanctions Against Iran

WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Susie Lee (D-NV) and Michelle Steel (R-CA) led 17 of their House colleagues to introduce the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act (SISA) to make the sanctions authority established by the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 permanent. The bill is a companion to Senate legislation introduced by Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The provisions of 1996 Act are set to expire in 2026. SISA would ensure the United States maintains critical economic deterrents and can apply pressure on the Iranian regime to stop its nuclear weapons development and other destabilizing activities.

“Iran remains a severe threat to the Middle East and global stability on many fronts,” said Rep. Lee. “I introduced this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to make permanent the Iran Sanctions Act, a landmark law that has protected the United States and our allies against Iran’s threats since 1996. With Iran closer than ever to obtaining nuclear weapons, we must use every tool in our toolbox to prevent the Iranian regime, and its collaborators, from dragging the world down a dangerous path. This legislation will ensure that we can continue to levy sanctions targeting Iran for its destabilizing activities, including its illicit weapons program and financial support for terrorism. The United States must stand firm in stopping Iran from threatening the security of the United States and Israel, our strongest ally in the region. By extending the Iran Sanctions Act beyond its expiration in 2026, this bill ensures we are able to do just that.”

“From brutal abuses committed against its own people, to its never-ending threats towards free and democratic societies, the Iranian regime has proven time and again that they are a rogue state with no interest in preserving regional or global peace,” said Rep. Steel. “It is more important than ever that we prevent the unacceptable threat of a nuclear Iran from becoming a reality. Existing sanctions have proven successful in preventing such a catastrophe, and we must ensure that we can continue to place economic and strategic pressures on Iran to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons or supporting terrorists. I’m proud to partner with Senator Scott on this issue, and to lead this bipartisan group of my House colleagues to send a clear signal that the United States will not tolerate existential threats against us, our allies, or freedom and democracy around the world.”

The Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) of 1996 has long allowed the President to impose sanctions on Iran that restrain the regime’s ability to fund operations that endanger U.S. military personnel, Israel, and our Arab partners. Specifically, it allows the U.S. to place economic pressure on Iran’s energy sector to prevent the regime from acquiring the financial resources needed to support terrorism or further develop their nuclear or biological weapons.

The Solidify Iran Sanctions Act ensures that the United States is prepared to stand up to Iran’s harmful activities with a full range of economic sanctions, extending the ISA indefinitely, beyond its expiration in 2026. The ISA has been extended repeatedly on a bipartisan basis since its first passage, as a cornerstone of the U.S. sanctions program against Iran’s malign behavior. Maintaining the ability to respond to Iranian escalation economically is critical for the United States and our allies, as we continue to work to halt Iran’s weapons development and terrorist sponsorship, and to bring about good-faith negotiations. Particularly with Iran’s progress towards developing a nuclear weapon, it is essential that the United States solidifies its ability to levy sanctions and apply pressure on this rogue regime.

This legislation is supported American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) Action.

Additional House cosponsors of the bill include Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. David Trone (D-MD), Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), David Rouzer (R-NC), Kathy Manning (D-NC), John Rutherford (R-FL), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Pat Fallon (R-TX), and David Joyce (R-OH).

You can read more about the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act here.

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