In The News

Over the weekend, Congressman Huizenga wrote an op-ed that was published by the Holland Sentinel, as well as the Grand Rapids Press, detailing his opposition to the President's Nuclear Agreement. You can read the piece in full below.  

The President’s Iran Nuclear Deal Is Dangerous
By Congressman Bill Huizenga

Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. The Iranian regime has spent untold sums of money to destabilize the Middle East and kill our men and women in uniform. It’s because of this unrelenting support for terror that Iran has been isolated from the global economy by a strategic and effective set of sanctions.  In fact, these sanctions are the reason Iran was at the negotiating table in the first place.

Under the Administration’s agreement with Iran, the Iranian Government would receive between $100-$150 billion dollars in unwarranted sanction relief.  The Iranians will use this influx of cash to further spread terror across the globe.  Even President Obama has acknowledged this unnerving reality, which raises the question: Why would President Obama allow Iran to have an even greater capacity to support terrorism? Instead of eliminating the current sanctions, Congress should strengthen them to bring Iran back to the negotiating table for a better agreement. Should President Obama successfully lift sanctions on Iran, I will work to ensure victims of Iranian backed terror attacks are justly compensated before the Iranian regime receives any financial benefit.

Even more alarming, the Iranian Regime is actively seeking to have the embargo on its ability to possess intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBM’s, lifted.  It is unconscionable that the President is even considering this request. ICBM’s are the delivery system for nuclear weapons and have the ability to strike targets at a great distance. If Iran were truly seeking a peaceful nuclear program, why are Iranian leaders demanding the ballistic missile embargo be lifted? 

Given the threat of increased terrorism and an enhanced Iranian military, it’s hard to believe this agreement could get worse, but unfortunately it does. Recent media reports detail that a number of secret agreements were made between the nations involved in the negotiations as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  Adding to the already mounting concerns, these side “deals” remain secret.

On May 22^nd, President Obama signed into law the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015.  This legislation gave Congress a greater role in reviewing the Iranian Nuclear Agreement negotiated by the United States, Russia, China, Germany, Great Britain, France, and Iran.  This legislation contained specific provisions requiring President Obama to reveal all details of the agreement including “any joint comprehensive plan of action entered into or made between Iran and any other parties, and any additional materials related thereto, including annexes, appendices, codicils, side agreements, implementing materials, documents, and guidance, technical or other understandings, and any related agreements, whether entered into or implemented prior to the agreement or to be entered into or implemented in the future.”  

I am calling on President Obama to follow the law he signed and release all secret agreements to Congress regarding the Iranian Nuclear Agreement so it can be fully vetted.

Now more than ever, our allies such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are in desperate need of American leadership, yet this President and his Administration fail to provide that.  I am disappointed by those in the Michigan Delegation, including our Senators, who continue to demonstrate unwavering support for a foreign policy that is based on how President Obama wished the world operated versus the reality of the challenges we face. This agreement is not leadership, it is capitulation, and those who vote in support of this dangerous agreement should be held accountable for the consequences.