Quick Legislative Report on Iran

By Sue Udry, www.unitedforpeace.org

Last week, Sen. Durbin (D-IL) introduced S.Res. 356 ( http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.RES.356:) stating that congress has to approve any offensive military action against Iran.

He has 6 co-sponsors: Akaka, Byrd, Clinton, Dodd, Sanders, Stabenow

Last Friday, Senator Webb began circulating a sign-on letter -- here is the text and a current list of signers (thanks to Carah Ong of the Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation):

"We are writing to express serious concerns with the provocative statements and actions stemming from your administration with respect to possible U.S. military action in Iran. These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.

"We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran, including the Senate vote on September 26, 2007 on an amendment to the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, expressing the sense of the Senate on Iran and the recent designation of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, should in no way be interpreted as a predicate for the use of military force in Iran.

"We stand ready to work with your administration to address the challenges presented by Iran in a manner that safeguards our security interests and promotes a regional diplomatic solution. At the same time, we wish to emphasize that no offensive military action would be justified against Iran without the express consent of Congress."

List of Signers so far:

AKAKA, Daniel

BAUCUS, Max

BOXER, Barbara

BROWN, Sherrod

BYRD, Robert

CARPER, Thomas

CLINTON, Hillary Rodham

DODD, Christopher

DORGAN, Byron

DURBIN, Richard

HARKIN, Tom

KERRY, John

LEAHY, Patrick

McCASKILL, Clair

MURRAY, Patty

REED, Jack

SANDERS, Bernard

STABENOW, Debbie

TESTER, Jon

WHITEHOUSE, Sheldon

WYDEN, Ron

______________________

Update on the DeFazio letter, asking for hearings on Iran. Here is a link to the letter:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3772

Here are the signers so far. I understand that the letter hasn't been sent yet:
DeFazio, Kucinich, Lee, Danny Davis, Hooley, Moran, Baldwin, M. Udall,
Ellison, Maloney, Woolsey, Grijalva, McGovern, Schakowsky, Fattah, Welch,
Honda, Filner, Blumenauer, Hinchey, Farr, Norton, Jackson Jr., Christensen.