Sen. Cruz Files Sanction Iran, Safeguard America Act

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today filed legislation to impose sanctions against Iran to help safeguard America.

“The recent extension of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and further relaxation of economic sanctions is confirmation that the Obama Administration's policy of tempting Tehran to curb its nuclear ambitions through preemptive concessions is indeed a historic mistake,” said Sen. Cruz. “The Iranians still have not taken any serious steps to rein in their nuclear program. The 19,000 centrifuges are still spinning. Not one pound of enriched uranium has left Iran. Research and development of ICBMs continues unchecked. And, Iran continues to operate the world's most extensive and sophisticated state-sponsored terrorist network.

“It is well past time to reverse this potentially disastrous course,” he said. “A nuclear-armed Iran poses an intolerable existential threat to the United States and our allies; we cannot let this misguided diplomatic process drift on endlessly while they plot our destruction. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in urging President Obama to reverse course before it is too late.”

Senator Cruz is a proud original co-sponsor of the Kirk-Menendez legislation that provides a path to reinstate and expand sanctions.

Given the Obama Administration’s decision to extend negotiations allowing the Iranians an additional four months and $2.8 billion to finance their network, however, the SISA Act of 2014 provides for an immediate reimplementation of sanctions, additional enforcement mechanisms, and an end to the failed negotiations.

Specifically, the SISA Act of 2014:

Re-imposes all previous sanctions that the Obama Administration relaxed.
Expands sanctions related to the petrochemical and automotive sector.
Prohibits funding for negotiations with Iran unless congressional approval is reached.
Gives Iran a clear path towards their removal: dismantling their nuclear program in its entirety; removing all centrifuges, relinquishing enriched uranium, and ceasing all research and development of the ICBM program.
Requires Iran to renounce its state-sponsorship of terrorism.

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton

"We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan

"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792

"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

Look at the history. Cruz points out that he cosponsored Menendez-Kirk(S-1881), but for some reason that Liberal Interventionist/NeoCon legislation didn't pass, and as I recall, AIPAC turned against it.

Then, a few days ago, Kirk introduced his S 2667.

Now, Cruz has his bill, but apparently there is no bill number?

One of the issues is what sanctions might the Senate pre-emptively impose, contingent on a failed outcome of negotiations.

The second issue is what sanctions relief can be granted to Iran as part of the negotiations.

As for Cruz, he is a freshman with no seniority plus he has no pertinent committee membership.

But if he is trying to wowse them as a vehicle to the GOP nomination in 2016, it doesn't hurt. He needs to catch up to Rand Paul. And, if it worked for Obama, it could work for Cruz. Obama got a seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee then aligned himself with Lugar. Then in 2007 he hired Colin Powell and Dan Shapiro as foreign policy advisors to his campaign.

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