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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) has voted for three pieces of legislation to hold Iran accountable for its funding terrorism, carrying out illegal ballistic missile tests, and other provocative actions. The U.S. House of Representatives passed all three bills, H.R. 5631, the Iran Accountability Act; H.R. 5119, the No Heavy Water From Iran Act; and H.R. 4992, the U.S. Financial System Protection Act.

“It’s been one year since the Administration announced that the President had reached a deal with Iran about its nuclear program," said Latta. “While the President sold the agreement by saying it would change Iran’s behavior, we’ve instead seen an even more emboldened, rogue nation. Their behavior threatens the stability of the Middle East, and they must be held accountable for their actions.”

Background on the three bills:

H.R. 5631 – The Iran Accountability Act – This legislation holds Iran accountable for the continued illegal development of its ballistic missile program, its support for international terrorism, and its ongoing record of human rights abuses. The legislation imposes sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and entities that do business with the IRGC. The bill also imposes sanctions on sectors of the Iranian economy that aid in its efforts to develop its ballistic missile program. H.R. 5631 would also expand the list of individuals that can be sanctioned for human rights abuses and requires the President to report annually on efforts to free Americans held hostage in Iran.

H.R. 5119 – The No Heavy Water From Iran Act – Heavy water is an essential part of the production of weapons-grad plutonium and nuclear weapons. Last year's nuclear agreement requires Iran to get rid of nearly all of its heavy water supplies, but does not say how. The U.S. has agreed to purchase 32 metric tons of heavy water from Iran with taxpayer money. The legislation prohibits the usage of U.S. tax dollars from purchasing heavy water from Iran and subsidizing the rogue government.

H.R. 4992 – The U.S. Financial Protection Act – Since the Iran agreement, the government has gained access to tens of billions in funds held abroad, signed deals worth over $100 billion in foreign investment, and is now selling oil on the international market. H.R. 4992 codifies existing regulations prohibiting the Administration from allowing the U.S. Dollar to be use to facilitate trade transactions with Iran. It maintains these provisions until the President certifies that Iran no longer supports terrorism, abuses human rights, or develops ballistic missiles.
 
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