U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) is on a mission to determine if Iran in early 2016 used funds approved by the United States to subsidize terrorist groups, conduct military operations in war-torn Syria, or to promote illegal drug activities, among other criminal purposes.
“The Obama Administration delivered $1.7 billion dollars, along with billions of dollars in sanctions relief, to the Iranian regime – the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism,” Rep. Bishop said. “My constituents, and Americans across the nation, have every right to know how and where these dollars were used.”
Rep. Bishop on Sept. 12 introduced the Iran Payments Accountability Act of 2018, H.R. 6774, which would require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to report to Congress on Iran’s use of approved monies and cash settlements issued by the U.S. government. U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), a senior member on the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is an original cosponsor of the bill.
The DNI report would be required to detail whether the assets sponsored terrorists, including Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps; funded military operations in Syria, where an ongoing civil war has raged since 2011; backed criminal drug activities; or were used to attack U.S. nationals or members of the U.S. Armed Forces, according to the text of the bill.
If enacted, and the funds are found to have been used against Americans, H.R. 6774 would require the U.S. Secretary of State to demand that U.S. funds are repaid “through any means necessary, including through the imposition of new or increased sanctions,” according to a summary provided by Congressman Bishop’s office.
“Specifically, the American people have a right to know if these funds were used to foment terrorism, military activity, or other criminal acts,” Bishop said. If so, the lawmaker added that H.R. 6774 would “provide transparency and empower the State Department to secure repayment from Iran.”
Rep. Conaway said President Barack Obama’s 2016 billion-dollar deal with Iran required little in return for the United States.
“It is unclear what this money has been used for, which is why I’m proud to join my colleague Congressman Bishop in introducing this legislation,” he said. “It is crucial that we prevent any future potential harm to Americans and innocent civilians around the world.”
U.S. Reps. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Tom Cole (R-OK), John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Tim Ryan (D-OH) are among the 11 cosponsors of the bipartisan H.R. 6774, which has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.