The terrorist attack by Hamas is absolutely appalling. I stand with our ally Israel and firmly condemn these barbaric attacks. I wanted to share with you how I am taking action to confront terrorism in the Middle East and around the globe. Following the assault on Israel, I reintroduced my legislation to cut off the Iranian Government from the U.S. Financial System. This bill is called the No U.S. Financing for Iran Act.
For years, Iran has routinely provided funding and support to Islamic terrorist groups that have detained and killed Americans, including Hamas, Hizballah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to the State Department’s 2021 Country Report on Terrorism, Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. My legislation will hold Iran accountable for their reckless and harmful support of these radical terrorist groups and significantly damage their ability to financially export terrorism.
The No U.S. Financing for Iran Act prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from authorizing transactions by U.S. financial institutions to Iran for any goods, services, or technology and prevents the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from providing financial assistance to Iran. Additionally, my bill codifies statutory authority at the Export-Import Bank, ensuring they do not guarantee, insure, or extend credit in connection with any transaction for Iran.
Last week, I sat down with ABC 57 for an interview to discuss the deteriorating situation in Israel as well as my legislation to stop Iran from financially supporting terrorism. You can watch our conversation below.
As the horrific scenes in Israel unfold, the United States must continue to stand with the Israeli people and support them with the resources needed to protect themselves and their borders. The No U.S. Financing for Iran Act is a concrete start to cutting off the financial head of Hamas, Hizballah, and other groups who target both Israelis and Americans alike. As Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I will continue to fight to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are not used irresponsibly and find ways to support Israel.
If you or someone you know is stuck in Israel or another conflict zone and need assistance returning to the United States, please do not hesitate to contact my office in Holland at (616) 251-6741, in Portage at (269) 569-8595, or in Washington at (202) 225-4401.
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