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**Insight** · 04-16-2015, 01:22 AM

Senate panel approves Iran legislation

Mary Troyan, USA Today 7:04 p.m. EDT April 14, 2015
WASHINGTON – A key Senate committee voted unanimously Tuesday to give Congress the power to approve or reject any deal to limit Iran's nuclear program.
The 19-0 vote in the Foreign Relations Committee was a surprising show of unity on an issue that had bitterly divided lawmakers over whether Congress was interfering with the administration's ability to secure an international agreement on nuclear weapons.
The committee's Republican chairman, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, and top Democrat, Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, appeared side-by-side after the vote to congratulate each other on a deal that united liberals and conservatives and prompted President Obama to drop a veto threat.

Corker and Cardin said the deal, reached just before midnight Monday, gives Congress ample time to review any deal struck by the U.S., Iran and other world powers on Iran's nuclear program. Specifically, it gives Congress a say in whether congressionally imposed sanctions against Iran should be lifted if Iran agrees to stop work toward building a nuclear bomb.
"I think this is what the American people deserve and that is a United States Senate and hopefully House of Representatives, on their behalf, examining any final deal that may occur with Iran," Corker said after the vote. "We believe it is our role to make sure that any deal with Iran makes them accountable, is transparent and is enforceable."
A nationwide USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll found overwhelming support for the idea that Congress should have a role in deciding whether the United States supports any final agreement with Iran.
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed said Congress should have a role, while only 19% said it shouldn't. The survey of 1,000 people, taken by landline and cell phone Wednesday through Monday, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Both Corker and Cardin made concessions in a marathon weekend of bargaining.
Their compromise bill, which now heads to the Senate floor, would give Congress 30 days — instead of the 60 days in the original version — to approve, reject or take no action on a deal with Iran, if Obama submits the agreement to Congress by July 10. During the 30 days, the president could not waive the congressionally mandated sanctions on Iran.
If Congress rejected the deal, Obama would have 12 days to consider a veto. If he issued a veto, Congress would have 10 days to consider overriding it.
The compromise also drops a provision that would have required the Obama administration to certify that Iran has not carried out or supported acts of terrorism against the U.S. Obama and some Democrats were concerned that adding requirements related to terrorism would sink the delicate negotiations, which are focused solely on nuclear weapons.
Corker and Cardin said they replaced that provision with language strengthening requirements for disclosure of information about terrorism, ballistic missile testing, and human rights activities in Iran.
"This is a proud moment," Cardin said. "If we get this... it is the right thing not only for Congress but for the American people."
Several senators dropped their opposition to the legislation after Cardin and Corker announced their deal, which hands Corker his first major legislative victory since becoming committee chairman in January.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif, for example, was concerned the original bill, negotiated by Corker and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., would upend the ongoing negotiations among the U.S., United Kingdom, Russia, China, France and Germany and Iran.
"The two of you have struck just the right balance," Boxer told Corker and Cardin.
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., tried to restore the provision requiring Obama to certify Iran hasn't sposnored terrorist acts, but his amendment was defeated 6-13. Corker said he supported the amendment but had already agreed to drop it.
Two of the six votes for the proposal came from GOP presidential candidates Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Corker and Cardin disagreed on why Obama dropped his opposition to the bill. Cardin said it was because of the negotiated changes. Corker said it was because the president realized Democratic senators were set to vote for the compromise version.
Contributing Susan Page, USA TODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...deal/25758105/

Announcement

U.S. Senate panel unanimously backs bill to give Congress vote on Iran deal

U.S. Senate panel unanimously backs bill to give Congress vote on Iran deal

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