CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – In an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said there is “a building, strong bipartisan consensus” for his legislation to require congressional review of any final nuclear agreement with Iran. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the bill on April 14.
“[W]e have a building, strong bipartisan consensus that at the end of the day, before anything is implemented, Congress should at least…be able to analyze this deal, as is the norm, and say grace, up or down, as to whether or not we think those sanctions ought to be removed,” he said.
Senator Corker also reiterated his hope that a strong agreement which stands the test of time and prevents Iran from developing a nuclear weapon can be reached, but he raised concerns about the willingness of the Obama administration to make too many concessions.
“I don't know of anyone that doesn't want a negotiated agreement with Iran that is a good deal, one that will stand the test of time,” Corker said. “I think the concern has been from day one that we keep moving from our initial position…towards Iran's position. So there's a concern that the administration cares more about making a deal versus the right deal.”
The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 was coauthored by Senators Corker, Menendez, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Cosponsors include Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Bill Nelson (D- Fla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Angus King (I-Maine), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.).
For text and a summary of the bill, click here.
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