WASHINGTON, DC — Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman August Pfluger's legislation permanently freezing all Iranian-sanctioned assets, including the $6 billion in funds that the Biden Administration unfroze on September 11, 2023, and prohibits the President from using any waiver authority, including licenses, guidance, or FAQs, to lift sanctions.

"Americans deserve leaders who unequivocally stand against terror and with our ally Israel, not those who facilitate Tehran’s access to billions of dollars," said Rep. August Pfluger. "When it comes to foreign policy, President Biden has gotten it wrong every single time. His strategy of appeasement has made our country less safe and emboldened our adversaries to attack U.S. allies around the world. I am proud that the House passed my bill to stop the flow of money into Iran’s war machine and help protect Israel."

Rep. Pfluger spoke on the House Floor in support of his legislation. Watch here or read the remarks as drafted below.

"M. Speaker,

Let’s go back in time to September 11, 2023. Instead of mourning with our nation and standing firmly against terrorism, the President of the United States took the anniversary of 9/11 as an opportunity to give Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, a $6 billion present.  

It is no coincidence that shortly following this foreign policy fiasco, the Iranian-backed terror group Hamas was emboldened to launch a barbaric attack against our Democratic ally Israel—murdering over 1,400 innocent civilians and abducting hundreds of hostages.

In the six months following the attacks on October 7th, Iran’s proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis have continued carrying out terrorist attacks against Israel and across the Middle East, culminating in Iran’s direct attack on Israel this past weekend.

When it comes to foreign policy, President Biden has gotten it wrong every single time. In fact, on September 10th, 2001—ONE DAY before the attacks on 9/11—then-Senator Joe Biden criticized President Bush’s proposed missile-defense system as 'dangerous and potentially disastrous,' and that 'it weakens us.'

In reality, Biden’s “strategy” of appeasement weakens us. His choices have made our country less safe, resulted in the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, and emboldened our adversaries to attack our allies around the world.

When asked what his message to Iran in the lead-up to a possible attack on Israel was, the President simply said: 'Don’t.' Well, Mr. President, they did.

Americans deserve leaders who unequivocally stand against terror and with our ally Israel, not those who facilitate Tehran’s access to billions of dollars.

My legislation permanently freezes all Iranian-sanctioned assets and prohibits the President from using any waiver authority, including licenses, guidance, or FAQs, to lift sanctions.

I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation, to stop the flow of money into Iran’s war machine, and to help protect Israel."