September 26, 2007

Dodd Calls For Swift Action Against Iran, Sudan

Senate Banking Chairman Commends House Panel for Approving His Sanctions Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pursuing additional pressure on the governments of Iran and Sudan, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) commended the approval of a bill he authored, the International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act, by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and urged the House of Representatives to take up and pass his legislation
    "I greatly appreciate the leadership of Chairman Lantos and members of his Committee,” said Dodd. “It is imperative that this bill be enacted quickly, to hold violators of U.S. sanctions law fully accountable. Let this bill serve notice to the patrons of terrorism and supporters of genocide: we will bring you to justice, and choke off your financing, from Khartoum to Tehran.”
As Chairman of the Senate panel with jurisdiction over foreign economic sanctions, Dodd earlier this year drafted and presided over Committee approval of sanctions penalties legislation. The International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act, which is strongly supported by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, would increase penalties on violators of U.S. sanctions law. Under the bill, individuals that have invested in a country or terrorist organization designated by the President as a major threat to the United States could be fined severely. The legislation passed out of Committee on May 16th and was approved unanimously by the Senate on June 29th.