House Chamber, Washington, D.C., December 15, 2009, M. Speaker:  I rise to applaud the passage today of HR 2194, the Iranian Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009. 

 Iran’s regime has consistently lied to the world over its nuclear ambitions.  Yesterday’s revelation that Iran has been working on nuclear bomb detonators, should convince the most naïve voices in our nation of Iran’s ultimate intention.

 I do not believe that petroleum sanctions alone will dissuade the Iranian regime from its obvious intention to acquire nuclear weapons; nor from its stated goal of “wiping Israel off the map,” nor from its unremitting hostility toward our country. 

But I do believe it will send a vital message of growing Western resolve at a critical moment in world history.  Iran should interpret the House’s action today as an overwhelming expression of American commitment that spans the wide spectrum of political views within our nation.