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Palmer: Obama Needs to Follow the Law Concerning the Iran Deal

September 10, 2015

For Immediate Release

Washington, DC – Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), voted today for H.Res. 411. This resolution states that the Corker-Cardin law, which provided for Congressional review of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the ‘Iran Deal,' has not been complied with since some of the relevant materials have not been provided to Congress. Subsequently, the review period has not commenced. The measure passed by a vote of 245 to 186.

"The Corker-Cardin law is clear," Palmer said. "It requires that the President to transmit to Congress ‘the agreement … including all related materials and annexes' before any sanctions can be waived. The President has failed to transmit the ‘side agreements' concerning the exact terms of the nuclear inspections. I joined 93 of my colleagues in a letter to the President concerning this issue last month. Unfortunately, these materials have still not been transmitted to Congress. The President needs to comply with the law and give Congress access to all of the documents that are part of this deal with Iran."

The Corker-Cardin bill was passed and signed into law in May. Key elements of the Iran deal's inspections program, which is executed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are part of ‘side agreements' between the IAEA and Iran, have not been transmitted to Congress, a violation of the Corker-Cardin law. Reports indicate that these agreements allow inspections of the Parchin military site, a key location for Iran's nuclear program, to be based on information and samples provided by the Iranian regime, not independent investigators.

Congressman Palmer is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 3199, which would require this agreement to receive a two-thirds vote in the Senate, as if it were a treaty.

For any additional questions, contact:
Cliff Smith, (202) 225-4921, clifford.smith@mail.house.gov

U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-AL) serves on three Congressional committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Budget, and Science, Space and Technology. Visit Palmer online at his website or via Facebook,Twitter, or Instagram.