Bucks Lawmaker Responds To Obama's Iran Agreement

By Justin Heinze:

President Obama’s Iran Agreement announced on Tuesday was met with bitter division across the political spectrum, especially from Pennsylvania lawmakers who either strongly supported or were strongly against the deal.

Although the agreement is commonly known as ”Obama’s nuclear deal,” President Obama and the United States were joined by the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, Germany, and the European Union in achieving the accord.

Several of those countries, notably China and Russia, do not frequently side with President Obama and the United States.

Nonetheless, the deal was characterized by Republicans as not going far enough to ensure that Iran was committed to becoming a permanent and contributing member of the global community.

“I have deep concerns about the direction the Obama Administration has taken in reaching this agreement with Iran,” said Montgomery County-based U.S. Rep Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA 8). “ Even during negotiations, Iranian leaders have spewed hateful language towards the United States, Israel and the Jewish people, and have unapologetically continued their state sponsorship of terrorism.”

Fitzpatrick, who chairs the bipartisan Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, said that the committee will be investigating Iran’s role in financing terrorism around the world next week.

“(This is) information that I feel is vital to the Administration, Congress and American people when reviewing any nuclear agreement with Iran that includes sanctions relief,” Fitzpatrick said.

One major sticking point for many Republicans, including Fitzpatrick, is that any deal with Iran be first reviewed by Congress before it can be signed into law. A bill has been passed, supported by Fitzpatrick, requiring as much.

“In the end, this announced deal is under Congressional authority to review and I will only support it if it meets the simple benchmark of forever preventing a nuclear Iran,” he added.

Local Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, lauded the agreement and the efforts of President Obama, but also said they looked forward to the review.

“I applaud the President and Secretary Kerry for their strong leadership throughout these tough negotiations that have led to this historic nuclear agreement with Iran,” said U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA 2). “I have been committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and I was proud to support the legislation that allows Congress an ability to review and approve any final agreement.”

Fattah, who joined President Obama in Philadelphia Tuesday before the President addressed the NAACP, said he was confident that Congress would approve the deal.

“ I have every confidence in the negotiators that this is a good deal—based on verification—and that once the details are fully understood and assessed, it will earn the support of the United States Congress.”