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“IRAN MONEY FOR HOSTAGES” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H5450 on Sept. 14, 2016.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IRAN MONEY FOR HOSTAGES
(Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, Iran is the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, but that didn't stop the Obama administration from providing $1.7 billion in cash, we finally found out, to the Iranian Government. This money, along with the $150 billion already in sanctions relief that Iran previously received, will likely be used to finance acts of terrorism directed at our interests and our allies.
Many Americans at home are probably wondering why their government provided such a large cash payment to a country that sponsors terrorism, especially in the dark of night on a big pallet. The Obama administration says these payments were connected to an Iranian purchase of American airplane parts back in the 1970s.
Of all the disastrous foreign policy blunders this administration has made, this is the hardest one to understand. Paying $1.7 billion in cash to one of our adversaries is outrageous, and the fact that these payments were used as leverage in order to secure American hostages raises serious questions about the administration and the State Department's judgment.
Iran refuses to act like a responsible nation that respects international norms and rules. Our government should treat them accordingly. That is why I am proud to sponsor Chairman Ed Royce's bill, H.R. 5931, which will prohibit all cash payments to Iran.
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