Press Releases

Late last week, Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) voted on two bills concerning Iran’s finances.

Sept. 22, 2016 Vote:

Grothman Thursday voted in favor of the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act (H.R. 5931). The bill stops cash payments to the Iranian government and sets in place a process to ensure that any future settlements with Iran are transparent.

The bill also acknowledges that President Obama paid ransom for the return of American hostages held in Iran.

“It’s common knowledge that Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism yet President Obama submitted to the tyrannical regime first by entering into the Iran nuclear deal and then, as it’s come to light more recently, by agreeing to break U.S. policy and pay its government ransom,” said Grothman. “I’m glad Congress is stepping up and making sure American money is not abused in such a way ever again.”

Background:

After President Obama entered into the troubling Iran nuclear deal late last year, he announced that American hostages in Iran would be released through a prisoner exchange. The president also announced that the U.S. would pay Iran $1.7 billion to settle an old dispute over an arms sale. The White House maintained that the $1.7 billion was not a ransom and refused to answer any questions from Congress.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that the U.S. made its first payment on the $1.7 billion the same day that American hostages were released from Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

U.S. policy dictates not paying ransom for the return of American hostages abroad. The State Department admits that the money was used as leverage for releasing the hostages.

The Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 254-163.

Sept. 21, 2016 Vote:

Grothman Wednesday voted in favor of the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act (H.R. 5461).

The bill publicly discloses financial information about the Iranian regime by requiring the Department of the Treasury to report, among other information:

·         Total funds and assets held in U.S. and certain foreign financial institutions by Iranian leaders,

·         Methods used to skirt anti-money laundering laws by Iranian leaders and

·         Recommendations on how to combat illegal uses of U.S. financial institutions by Iranian leaders.

By publicly disclosing the assets of Iran’s tyrannical leadership, American citizens will now be able to see how Iran is funding its terror activities.

The Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 282-143.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his first term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.