This week could decide what happens to a bipartisanbill in the United States Senate. If approved, the billwould give the U.S. Congress the right to examine andvote on any final nuclear agreement with Iran.Democratic and Republican senators have expressedsupport for the proposal.
The U.S. Senate can either vote on the bill as is orpermit amendments, making additional demands onIran. But changes would lead to a presidential veto andcould stop the legislative effort.
If approved, the bill would delay an easing of U.S.sanctions on Iran for 30 days. Congress would have30 days to study a final nuclear agreement with Iranbefore the restrictions could be lifted. The bill has thesupport of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
 |
|
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., left, and the committee's ranking member Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. shake hands on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) |
“These sanctions are a big reason why America wasable to even bring Iran to the (negotiating) table in the first place. We shouldnot be giving up that leverage now without the American people, through themembers of Congress they elect, having a chance to weigh in.”
The Senate Majority leader belongs to the Republican Party. But someRepublicans in the Senate are putting Mr. McConnell in a very difficultposition. They are doing everything in their power to force votes onamendments on what critics say are side issues to the nuclear talks.
One of the amendments would require Iran to recognize the right of Israel toexist. Republican Senator Tom Cotton is not apologetic for supporting whathave been called “poison pill” amendments.
“We need to vote. If you do not want to vote, you should not have come to theSenate. If you are in the Senate and you do not want to vote, you shouldleave. We are talking about a nuclear-armed Iran, the most dangerous threatto our national security.”
The bipartisan bill is the work of Republican Senator Bob Corker andDemocratic Senator Ben Cardin. Senator Cardin has appealed for restraint.
“This is an extremely important issue. It has got to rise above our individualdesires so that, collectively, we can achieve something for the Americanpeople.”
President Barack Obama says the United States should not miss the chanceto limit Iran’s nuclear program in a way that can be confirmed. Josh Earnest is the president’s spokesman.
“We do not anticipate that these nuclear negotiations will resolve the long listof concerns that we have with Iranian behavior. We know that it would beeven more difficult to resolve our concerns about Iran's nuclear, Iran’sdestabilizing activities, if Iran had a nuclear weapon.”
Senator McConnell can either permit votes on amendments or move to enddebate and bring the original bill up for a final vote. On this issue, the majorityleader’s support for a full debate in the Senate is in conflict with his desire tosee the measure signed into law.
Iran has been talking about its nuclear program with six other countries: theUnited States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. They have setJune 30 as their date for reaching a final nuclear agreement.
I’m Jill Robbins.
This report was based on a story from VOA’s Michael Bowman inWashington. George Grow adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompsonwas the editor.
_________________________________________________________________
Words in this Story
bipartisan –adj. involving members of two political parties
leverage – n. influence or power used to achieve a desired result
sanction(s) – n. a measure designed to force a country to obey internationallaws
restraint – n. a way to limit or control something
spokesman – n. someone speaking for someone or something else; arepresentative
