Ernst Remains Committed to Rejecting President’s Iran Nuclear Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This evening, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) released the following statement after voting to proceed with Senate consideration of the resolution of disapproval on the President’s nuclear deal with Iran:

“I am extremely disappointed that my Democratic colleagues have once again undermined the will of the American people and denied them a vote on the President’s nuclear deal with Iran. Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of 98 Senators supported a vote over this nuclear agreement.  Now, the same Democrats who initially supported the vote are going back on their word.

“There is overwhelming bipartisan opposition to the President’s deal with Iran which gives Iran a pathway to achieve a nuclear weapon; fails to enforce anytime, anywhere inspections; provides Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of terror, with a free pass in this deal to continue its terrorist activities and the oppression of millions of Syrians through its support of the Assad regime.

“This is one of the most critical votes of our time that will impact generations to come, and the American people deserve a vote to hold their elected officials in Washington accountable over this major national security issue. I remain committed to rejecting the President’s ill-conceived Iran deal that threatens our nation, our national security interests and our allies in the region.”

Sen. Ernst’s Efforts to Shine a Light on the President’s Nuclear Deal with Iran:

• Last week, Senator Ernst spoke on the Senate floor about the significant failures in the President’s deal with Iran, a deal in which only 21 percent of Americans approve of. Watch her floor speech here.
• In addition, Senator Ernst penned a column which appeared on CNN.com highlighting the veracity of Iran’s threats against our allies and their support of terrorism, creating one of the most cataclysmic events of this century.
• In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in July, Senator Ernst asked current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey on whether he advised President Obama that the U.S. must accept the Iran nuclear deal or go to war.
• During several other Senate Armed Services Committee hearings, Senator Ernst pressed witnesses on whether they agreed with the President’s ultimatum to accept the nuclear agreement or face war. Among the panelists questioned:
  • General Hayden and former U.S. Ambassadors echoed there are other alternatives between the President’s two extremes.
  • Admiral John M. Richardson, the President’s nominee to a top U.S. Navy post, stated that there were options beyond going to war.
• In July, Senator Ernst voiced national security concerns with the proposal following President Obama’s announcement that a deal had been reached. Read the Senator’s statement on the Iran Nuclear Agreement here.
• In May, Senator Ernst voted in support of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, certifying that no congressional sanction can be lifted during the review period and safeguards congressional oversight of Iranian compliance, legislation she also cosponsored. This legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 98 to 1. Read more about the Nuclear Agreement Review Act here.
• In April, the Iowa Senator also took to the Senate floor to call for Congressional review of the deal. Watch her floor speech here.

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