September 19, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6079 

With that, Mr. Speaker I yield back 

the balance of my time. 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I 

want to thank you and the other members of 

our House leadership for introducing this important, bi-partisan resolution. 

Tragically, our country will now be commemorating not only the terrorist attacks of 

September 11, 2001, but also the attacks on 

the United States consulate in Benghazi, 

Libya, that occurred on the same date last 

week. 

The four U.S. citizens who lost their lives, 

especially Ambassador John Christopher Stevens, and those who were injured in this unjustified act of violence demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to our country’s national security and Libya’s democracy. I would 

like to convey my heartfelt condolences to the 

families of the victims. 

I also want to express my ongoing support 

and gratitude for all the Foreign Service men 

and women who are promoting American values and interests abroad. It is on occasions 

such as this that we are reminded of the many 

sacrifices that they make in service to our 

country. In addition to living in foreign lands 

away from their families and adapting to new 

cultures and languages, many of them daily 

face the possible ultimate sacrifice of their 

lives. The violence that occurred last week at 

our diplomatic missions in several countries 

must renew our national commitment to doing 

our best to ensure their safety. 

Mr. Speaker, there is no justification for the 

recent attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions 

and the taking of innocent American lives in 

Benghazi. All governments must take appropriate measures to ensure the security of U.S. 

diplomatic facilities within their borders, and to 

end these acts of terrorism. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

question is on the motion offered by 

the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 

ROS-LEHTINEN) that the House suspend 

the rules and agree to the resolution, 

H. Res. 786. 

The question was taken; and (twothirds being in the affirmative) the 

rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to. 

A motion to reconsider was laid on 

the table. 

f 

COUNTERING IRAN IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE ACT OF 2012 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I 

move to suspend the rules and pass the 

bill (H.R. 3783) to provide for a comprehensive strategy to counter Iran’s 

growing presence and hostile activity 

in the Western Hemisphere, and for 

other purposes, as amended. 

The Clerk read the title of the bill. 

The text of the bill is as follows: 

H.R. 3783 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Countering 

Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) The United States has vital political, 

economic, and security interests in the Western Hemisphere. 

(2) Iran is pursuing cooperation with Latin 

American countries by signing economic and 

security agreements in order to create a network of diplomatic and economic relationships to lessen the blow of international 

sanctions and oppose Western attempts to 

constrict its ambitions. 

(3) According to the Department of State, 

Hezbollah, with Iran as its state sponsor, is 

considered the ‘‘most technically capable 

terrorist group in the world’’ with ‘‘thousands of supporters, several thousand members, and a few hundred terrorist 

operatives,’’ and officials from the Iranian 

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) 

Qods Force have been working in concert 

with Hezbollah for many years. 

(4) The IRGC’s Qods Force has a long history of supporting Hezbollah’s military, 

paramilitary, and terrorist activities, providing it with guidance, funding, weapons, 

intelligence, and logistical support, and in 

2007, the Department of the Treasury placed 

sanctions on the IRGC and its Qods Force for 

their support of terrorism and proliferation 

activities. 

(5) The IRGC’s Qods Force stations 

operatives in foreign embassies, charities, 

and religious and cultural institutions to 

foster relationships, often building on existing socioeconomic ties with the well established Shia Diaspora, and recent years have 

witnessed an increased presence in Latin 

America. 

(6) According to the Department of Defense, the IRGC and its Qods Force played a 

significant role in some of the deadliest terrorist attacks of the past two decades, including the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish 

Community Center in Buenos Aires, by generally directing or supporting the groups 

that actually executed the attacks. 

(7) Reports of Iranian intelligence agents 

being implicated in Hezbollah-linked activities since the early 1990s suggest direct Iranian government support of Hezbollah activities in the Tri-Border Area of Argentina, 

Brazil, and Paraguay, and in the past decade, 

Iran has dramatically increased its diplomatic missions to Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil. Iran 

has built 17 cultural centers in Latin America, and it currently maintains 11 embassies, 

up from 6 in 2005. 

(8) Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies 

with a presence in Latin America have raised 

revenues through illicit activities, including 

drug and arms trafficking, counterfeiting, 

money laundering, forging travel documents, 

pirating software and music, and providing 

haven and assistance to other terrorists 

transiting the region. 

(9) Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and 

Venezuela expressed their intention to assist 

Iran in evading sanctions by signing a statement supporting Iran’s nuclear activities 

and announcing at a 2010 joint press conference in Tehran their determination to 

‘‘continue and expand their economic ties to 

Iran’’ with confidence that ‘‘Iran can give a 

crushing response to the threats and sanctions imposed by the West and imperialism’’. 

(10) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration concluded in 2008 that almost onehalf of the foreign terrorist organizations in 

the world are linked to narcotics trade and 

trafficking, including Hezbollah and Hamas. 

(11) In October 2011, the United States 

charged two men, Manssor Arbabsiar, a 

United States citizen holding both Iranian 

and United States passports, and Gholam 

Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran’s 

IRGC Qods Force, with conspiracy to murder 

a foreign official using explosives in an act 

of terrorism. Arbabsiar traveled to Mexico 

with the express intent to hire ‘‘someone in 

the narcotics business’’ to carry out the assassination of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in the United States. While in the end, 

he only engaged a U.S. Drug Enforcement 

Agency informant posing as an associate of a 

drug trafficking cartel, Arbabsiar believed 

that he was working with a member of a 

Mexican drug trafficking organization and 

sought to send money to this individual in 

installments and not in a single transfer. 

(12) In February 2011, actions by the Department of the Treasury effectively shut 

down the Lebanese Canadian Bank. Subsequent actions by the United States Government in connection with the investigation 

into Lebanese Canadian Bank resulted in the 

indictment in December 2011 of Ayman 

Joumaa, an individual of Lebanese nationality, with citizenship in Lebanon and Colombia, and with ties to Hezbollah, for trafficking cocaine to the Los Zetas drug trafficking organization in Mexico City for sale 

in the United States and for laundering the 

proceeds. 

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

It shall be the policy of the United States 

to use a comprehensive government-wide 

strategy to counter Iran’s growing hostile 

presence and activity in the Western Hemisphere by working together with United 

States allies and partners in the region to 

mutually deter threats to United States interests by the Government of Iran, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 

(IRGC), the IRGC’s Qods Force, and 

Hezbollah. 

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) WESTERN HEMISPHERE.—The term 

‘‘Western Hemisphere’’ means the United 

States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, 

South America, and Central America. 

(2) RELEVANT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term ‘‘relevant congressional 

committees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 

and the Committee on Foreign Relations of 

the Senate. 

SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT OF A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS IRAN’S GROWING HOSTILE 

PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN THE 

WESTERN HEMISPHERE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

the Secretary of State shall conduct an assessment of the threats posed to the United 

States by Iran’s growing presence and activity in the Western Hemisphere and submit to 

the relevant congressional committees the 

results of the assessment and a strategy to 

address Iran’s growing hostile presence and 

activity in the Western Hemisphere. 

(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The strategy described in subsection (a) should include— 

(1) a description of the presence, activities, 

and operations of Iran, the Iranian Islamic 

Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its Qods 

Force, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations linked to Iran that may be present in 

the Western Hemisphere, including information about their leaders, objectives, and 

areas of influence and information on their 

financial networks, trafficking activities, 

and safe havens; 

(2) a description of the terrain, population, 

ports, foreign firms, airports, borders, media 

outlets, financial centers, foreign embassies, 

charities, religious and cultural centers, and 

income-generating activities in the Western 

Hemisphere utilized by Iran, the IRGC, its 

Qods Force, Hezbollah, and other terrorist 

organizations linked to Iran that may be 

present in the Western Hemisphere; 

(3) a description of the relationship of Iran, 

the IRGC, its Qods Force, and Hezbollah with 

transnational criminal organizations linked 

to Iran and other terrorist organizations in 


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H6080 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 19, 2012 

the Western Hemisphere, including information on financial networks and trafficking 

activities; 

(4) a description of the relationship of Iran, 

the IRGC, its Qods Force, Hezbollah, and 

other terrorist organizations linked to Iran 

that may be present in the Western Hemisphere with the governments in the Western 

Hemisphere, including military-to-military 

relations and diplomatic, economic, and security partnerships and agreements; 

(5) a description of the Federal law enforcement capabilities, military forces, 

State and local government institutions, and 

other critical elements, such as nongovernmental organizations, in the Western Hemisphere that may organize to counter the 

threat posed by Iran, the IRGC, its Qods 

Force, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations linked to Iran that may be present in 

the Western Hemisphere; 

(6) a description of activity by Iran, the 

IRGC, its Qods Force, Hezbollah, and other 

terrorist organizations linked to Iran that 

may be present at the United States borders 

with Mexico and Canada and at other international borders within the Western Hemisphere, including operations related to drug, 

human, and arms trafficking, human support 

networks, financial support, narco-tunneling, and technological advancements that 

incorporates— 

(A) with respect to the United States borders, in coordination with the Governments 

of Mexico and Canada and the Secretary of 

Homeland Security, a plan to address resources, technology, and infrastructure to 

create a secure United States border and 

strengthen the ability of the United States 

and its allies to prevent operatives from 

Iran, the IRGC, its Qods Force, Hezbollah, or 

any other terrorist organization from entering the United States; and 

(B) within Latin American countries, a 

multiagency action plan, in coordination 

with United States allies and partners in the 

region, that includes the development of 

strong rule-of-law institutions to provide security in such countries and a counterterrorism and counter-radicalization plan to 

isolate Iran, the IRGC, its Qods Force, 

Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations 

linked to Iran that may be present in the 

Western Hemisphere from their sources of financial support and counter their facilitation of terrorist activity; and 

(7) a plan— 

(A) to address any efforts by foreign persons, entities, and governments in the region 

to assist Iran in evading United States and 

international sanctions; 

(B) to protect United States interests and 

assets in the Western Hemisphere, including 

embassies, consulates, businesses, energy 

pipelines, and cultural organizations, including threats to United States allies; 

(C) to support United States efforts to designate persons and entities in the Western 

Hemisphere for proliferation activities and 

terrorist activities relating to Iran, including affiliates of the IRGC, its Qods Force, 

and Hezbollah, under applicable law including the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act; and 

(D) to address the vital national security 

interests of the United States in ensuring energy supplies from the Western Hemisphere 

that are free from the influence of any foreign government that would attempt to manipulate or disrupt global energy markets. 

(c) DEVELOPMENT.—In developing the strategy under this section, the Secretary of 

State shall consult with the heads of all appropriate United States departments and 

agencies, including the Secretary of Defense, 

the Director of National Intelligence, the 

Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the United States Trade Representative. 

(d) FORM.—The strategy under this section 

shall be submitted in unclassified form, but 

may contain a classified annex if necessary. 

SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should keep the relevant congressional committees continually informed 

on the hostile actions of Iran in the Western 

Hemisphere. 

SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 

limit the rights or protections enjoyed by 

United States citizens under the United 

States Constitution or other Federal law, or 

to create additional authorities for the Federal Government that are contrary to the 

United States Constitution and United 

States law. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 

Florida (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN) and the 

gentleman from New York (Mr. ENGEL) 

each will control 20 minutes. 

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida. 

GENERAL LEAVE

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I 

ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 

insert extraneous material into the 

RECORD on this measure. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there 

objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida? 

There was no objection. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself 

such time as I may consume. 

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support 

today of H.R. 3783, the Countering Iran 

in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012, 

a bill introduced by my good friend, 

Mr. DUNCAN, an esteemed member of 

our Foreign Affairs Committee. I would 

like to thank him for his hard work on 

the issues addressed in this important 

bill. 

In February, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled 

‘‘Ahmadinejad’s Tour of Tyrants and 

Iran’s Agenda in the Western Hemisphere’’ in order to examine the threat 

to U.S. national security posed by Iran 

and Iranian-sponsored activities in the 

Western Hemisphere. One month later, 

this bipartisan measure was unanimously adopted by our Committee on 

Foreign Affairs. 

Mr. Speaker, as we have witnessed in 

the last few weeks, the violence perpetrated by extremists in the Middle 

East against our embassies and our 

consulates undermines our foreign policy objectives, and we must prevent 

these vicious attacks from occurring in 

our region. 

Let us not forget that 18 years ago, 

Iranian so-called diplomats readily 

partnered with Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, 

to carry out a deadly attack against 

the AMIA Jewish Community Center in 

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Iran has only 

increased its subversive action since 

then, and over the past decade the regime has increased diplomatic and economic ties between Iran and the radical regimes in Latin America. 

Iran’s Ahmadinejad made two trips 

to Latin America this year to visit his 

fellow tyrants: the Castro brothers in 

Cuba, Ortega in Nicaragua, Correa in 

Ecuador, Chavez in Venezuela, and Morales in Bolivia. 

In an attempt to promote its extremist propaganda, the Iranian regime recently launched a Spanish television 

network to reach a larger international 

audience centered in the Western 

Hemisphere. More embassies and cultural centers have opened in Bolivia, 

Ecuador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile, 

and Uruguay, in addition to its existing diplomatic missions in Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela. 

According to a U.S. intelligence analyst, these diplomatic missions are 

simply fronts for Iran to carry out its 

nefarious activities in the region and a 

potential platform to increase the presence of the Qods Force operatives, a 

designated foreign terrorist organization and an arm of the Revolutionary 

Guard of Iran. 

b 1450 

According to media reports, 

Hezbollah, which is Iran’s proxy, has 

established a training base in Nicaragua. It is also concerning that the 

Ortega regime in Nicaragua does not 

require any visas for Iranian officials 

to enter the country, which can then 

become the gateway to enter the 

United States through our southern 

border. Ten days ago, there were news 

reports stating that several alleged 

Hezbollah members were arrested in 

Mexico. Iran has worked tirelessly to 

promote its extremist ideologies and 

support efforts to undermine the democratic governments throughout the region. 

H.R. 3783 requires the Secretary of 

State to outline a U.S. Governmentwide strategy to fight the aggressive 

actions of Iran and its proxies such as 

Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere 

toward a comprehensive policy stance 

that will protect U.S. security interests. 

This legislation calls for the administration to develop a plan to secure the 

U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico 

and to prevent operatives from entering the United States. It also calls for 

a plan to isolate Iran and its proxies 

from their sources of financial support, 

and it addresses efforts by foreign persons, entities, and governments in the 

region that may be assisting Iran in 

evading sanctions. 

Lastly, it develops a plan to protect 

U.S. interests and assets in our Western Hemisphere, including embassies, 

consulates, businesses, and cultural organizations. We must ensure that the 

United States is actively monitoring 

this threat and that it takes appropriate steps to counter the Iranian regime’s agenda in our hemisphere. I 

strongly support the passage of this 

legislation. 

With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the 

balance of my time. 

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 


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September 19, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6081 

I rise in strong support of H.R. 3783, 

the Countering Iran in the Western 

Hemisphere Act of 2012. 

I would like to thank the sponsor of 

this legislation, Mr. DUNCAN, and the 

chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, for their 

leadership on this issue. 

This bill makes available $1 million 

of Andean counternarcotics funding for 

the State Department to generate an 

assessment of the challenge posed to 

our country by Iran’s presence and hostile activity in the Western Hemisphere, as well as a strategy to address 

whatever threats we may face from the 

Iranian regime. 

Tehran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability, its continued support 

for international terrorism, and its 

abuse of basic human rights require the 

United States to maintain extreme vigilance in monitoring and countering its 

threats around the world. Though our 

goal has not yet been realized, thanks 

to the leadership of Congress and the 

Obama administration, more pressure 

has been placed on the Iranian regime 

than ever before. While Iran’s behavior 

poses a clear and obvious danger to its 

own people, its neighbors, and to our 

ally Israel, its presence closer to our 

shores also deserves watchful attention. 

The Foreign Affairs Committee has 

heard significant testimony on this 

issue from both the administration and 

private sources. In my capacity of first 

as chairman and now as ranking member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I think there is ample evidence 

that Iran is up to no good in the Western Hemisphere. 

Iranian President Mahmoud 

Ahmadinejad has openly and defiantly 

signaled to the U.S. in his six trips to 

our hemisphere that he is trolling for 

friends. Although it seems what Iran 

actually places on the table of the 

countries he visits is a stack of unmet 

promises, it is important that the U.S. 

Government remain vigilant and dig 

much deeper into the nature and effectiveness of these Iranian regime actions. 

None of this occurs in a vacuum. Iran 

was complicit in the horrific bombings 

of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires 

and of the AMIA Jewish Community 

Center, also in Buenos Aires, which I 

have visited on numerous occasions. 

This happened in the first half of the 

1990s, so it can easily be said that the 

first terrorist attacks on Latin American soil happened with Iran in control. 

We also have evidence of Iran’s increasing willingness to conduct an attack on 

U.S. soil, such as the discovery this 

year of a twisted Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador here in 

Washington. 

We must be alert to any Iranian attempts to circumvent sanctions and 

stand against efforts to curry favor 

with our neighbors to loosen those 

sanctions. We should continue to monitor intelligence links and watch the 

Iranian diplomatic corps, given its historical involvement in nefarious acts. 

We should keep a close eye on financial 

transactions; the chaotic nexus of drug 

money and terrorism in this region, in 

particular, deserves serious notice. 

Finally, it is important to express 

that my support for this legislation is 

not in any way an indication that the 

Obama administration has not taken 

this issue seriously. The President has 

himself stated that his administration 

will continue to monitor Iran’s activities in the Western Hemisphere closely, 

and I have personally engaged enough 

administration officials to be persuaded that they understand the gravity of the situation and are giving it 

the attention it deserves. 

Still, we must be particularly vigilant toward the relationship between 

Iran and Venezuela, given the opacity 

of the ties between the regimes governing each country and the antiAmerican bombast of their leaders. 

However, there are some positive notes 

in our region. I would like to extend 

my appreciation to Brazil, the largest 

democracy in the hemisphere outside 

of the United States, which, under 

President Rousseff, has significantly 

cooled its relationship with Iran and 

has cast important votes in the U.N. 

Human Rights Council critical of the 

Iranian regime. 

Today’s polarization and bluster in 

Washington on so many issues can 

have the effect of making it difficult to 

separate fact from fiction. We cannot 

let that happen here. The stakes are 

too high. So, with this legislation, we 

provide both a strong signal to the administration to continue to monitor 

this situation closely as well as the resources to look across U.S. agency efforts and enforcement capabilities to 

make sure they are in lockstep. 

I urge my colleagues to support this 

legislation, and I reserve the balance of 

my time. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I 

proudly yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. DUNCAN), a member of our House Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as a 

member of the Homeland Security and 

Natural Resources Committees. More 

importantly, he is the author of this 

bill today. 

Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. 

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, for 

your leadership on this very important 

issue. 

I want to pause to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. HIGGINS) 

for his leadership on the other side of 

the aisle. 

Last week, Congress took a rare 

break from our work here and from 

partisanship. We came together to remember those who died on 9/11 and during the war on terrorism. We stood together on the Capitol steps, and we 

pledged that we would never forget the 

heartbreaking events of that fateful 

day. One of the ways we can honor the 

memory of those who lost their lives is 

to be prepared so that our country will 

never again experience such a tragedy. 

Mr. Speaker, that’s why I’m standing 

before you today, thanking you and the 

Members of the body for putting partisanship aside and for working together to keep our families and our 

communities safe from new and emerging threats to our Nation. 

We are all aware of the Iranian nuclear threat in the Middle East and 

globally, but there is another potential 

threat from Iran and its proxies that is 

closer to home. That threat is an 

emerging Iranian-backed terror network here in the Western Hemisphere. 

What we already know is very alarming. 

We know about last October’s foiled 

Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi 

Arabian Ambassador to the U.S. here 

on American soil. 

We know that Iran has vastly expanded its diplomatic and economic 

footprint in Latin America. For example, we know about the Department of 

Defense’s 2012 Annual Report on Iran 

that stated: 

During the past three decades, Iran has 

methodically cultivated a network of sponsored terrorist surrogates capable of targeting U.S. and Israeli interests. 

Just this month, the Brazilian journal Veja and others reported on a police seizure in Bolivia of 2 tons of minerals believed initially to contain uranium but more likely tantalum, which 

is the mineral that is in demand for, 

among other things, nuclear reactors 

and missile parts. 

We know that 2 weeks ago an Israeli 

news organization revealed that Iran 

has established a Hezbollah terrorist 

training base in northern Nicaragua 

with operatives ‘‘being trained at the 

base to attack Israeli and U.S. targets 

in the event of a raid on Iranian nuclear installations.’’ 

b 1500 

And we know that just last week, 

press reports revealed that three suspected Hezbollah members were arrested just south of our border in Mexico. 

None of this should come as a surprise. Iran has publicly stated that increasing their presence and ties to 

Latin America is one of their top foreign policy objectives; however, we 

must have the capabilities to defend 

ourselves from potential Iranian attacks here on the homeland. We must 

be able to clearly identify this emerging threat and develop strategies which 

include working with our neighbors 

here in this hemisphere to prevent Iran 

from being a danger to our country 

here at home. 

Mr. Speaker, that’s why this bill, 

H.R. 3783, establishes a strong U.S. posture, policy, and relationship with 

Latin American countries. It protects 

U.S. interests and assets in the Western Hemisphere, such as embassies, 

consulates, energy pipelines, and cultural organizations, including threats 

to U.S. allies. It addresses the vital national security interests of the United 

States by ensuring that energy supplies from the Western Hemisphere are 


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H6082 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 19, 2012 

free from the influence of any foreign 

government that would attempt to manipulate or disrupt global energy markets. 

This bill requires a secure U.S. border with the U.S. working in coordination with the governments of Mexico 

and Canada to prevent Iranian 

operatives from entering the United 

States. This bill counters the efforts by 

foreign persons, entities, and governments in the region which may assist 

Iran in evading U.S. and international 

sanctions. 

Mr. Speaker and Madam Chairwoman, I urge that Members of this 

body come together and vote for this 

very important issue, H.R. 3783. 

Last week marked the 11th anniversary of al 

Qaeda’s attacks on the World Trade Center 

and the Pentagon. Al Qaeda, responsible for 

the tragic deaths of nearly 3,000 people on 9/ 

11, has long operated with extensive ties to 

the Government of Iran. The 9/11 Commission 

documented that al Qaeda operatives traveled 

to Iran to receive training in explosives in the 

1990s, that ‘‘Iran facilitated the transit of al 

Qaeda members into and out of Afghanistan 

before 9/11, and that some of these were future 9/11 hijackers.’’ This past February, the 

Treasury Department designated the Iranian 

Ministry of Intelligence and Security for its 

support of terrorist groups including al Qaeda. 

Today, the Iranian regime continues pursuing nuclear weapons against U.S. and international sanctions. It warns of striking U.S. 

military bases with its ballistic missiles in the 

event of an attack on Iran. It bullies the global 

energy market with its threats to block the 

Strait of Hormuz. Last October’s foiled Iranian 

plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to 

the U.S. revealed, as DNI Director Clapper 

stated, a change in ‘‘calculus’’ and a willingness ‘‘to conduct an attack in the United 

States.’’ This year alone, a string of assassination attempts by Iran and Hezbollah in 

Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Thailand, Georgia, and 

Kenya have only intensified this drumbeat. 

Add to these dangers a growing Iranian 

presence in the Western Hemisphere and we 

have a serious security threat that demands a 

U.S. response. Since 2005, Iran has increased 

its embassies from 6 to 11 and built 17 cultural centers in Latin America. Iran’s diplomacy has led to soaring trade with Latin 

American countries. Brazil increased its exports to Iran seven-fold over the past decade 

to an annual level of $2.12 billion. Iranian 

trade with Argentina and Ecuador has grown, 

and economic contracts between Iran and 

Venezuela have exploded to more than $20 

billion in trade and cooperation agreements. 

Iran has also boosted its military ties with 

Latin America. The Defense Department assesses ‘‘with high confidence that during the 

past three decades Iran has methodically cultivated a network of sponsored terrorist surrogates capable of targeting U.S. and Israeli interests.’’ The U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute has labeled this threat 

tied to the explosion of relationships between 

transnational crime and criminalized states in 

Latin America an ‘‘emerging tier-one national 

security priority.’’ Two weeks ago, an Israeli 

news organization published a story that ‘‘Iran 

has established a Hizbullah terrorist training 

base in northern Nicaragua’’ with operatives 

‘‘being trained at the base to attack Israeli and 

U.S. targets in the event of a raid on Iranian 

nuclear installations.’’ Last week, press reports 

revealed that three suspected Hezbollah members were arrested in Mexico. 

None of this should come as any surprise to 

us. Iran has publicly stated that ‘‘the promotion 

of all-out cooperation with Latin American 

countries is among the top priorities of the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy.’’ A 2009 dossier by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs put 

it bluntly: ‘‘since Ahmadinejad’s rise to power, 

Tehran has been promoting an aggressive 

policy aimed at bolstering its ties with Latin 

American countries with the declared goal of 

‘bringing America to its knees.’ 

The U.S. must have the capabilities to defend itself from a potential Iranian attack on 

the homeland. We must have a strong posture 

in our region and deepening relationships with 

our neighbors, so we can protect U.S. interests and keep the Western Hemisphere free 

from hostile agents of foreign influence. We 

must have secure borders to prevent Iranian 

operatives from entering the U.S. It is unconscionable that we should let Iran use Latin 

American countries as a base to prepare for 

potential attacks against the U.S. homeland. 

Iran poses an incalculable risk to the safety of 

the U.S. homeland. Our duty is to ensure we 

provide for the defense of this country, and 

the American people expect no less. I ask for 

your support of this legislation. 

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 

4 minutes to my friend and colleague 

from the great State of New York, who 

is the lead Democratic sponsor of this 

bill, Mr. HIGGINS. 

Mr. HIGGINS. First, I want to thank 

JEFF DUNCAN for his leadership and 

friendship on this issue and for his hard 

work on this. It’s a very important bill 

that obviously enjoys bipartisan support. 

I rise in support of H.R. 3783, the 

Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act. This important legislation 

is of particular interest to western New 

York, and it addresses a pressing national security concern for the United 

States. 

Mr. Speaker, Hezbollah, otherwise 

known as the ‘‘party of God’’ in Arabic, 

is a militant Shia organization committed to violent jihad. It is based in 

Lebanon, but serves as a proxy for Iran, 

Syria, and Venezuela. During hearings 

in the House Committee on Homeland 

Security, we heard expert testimony 

linking Hezbollah to criminal activity 

throughout the Western Hemisphere. 

We learned that there are roughly 80 

Hezbollah operatives in the 15-nation 

region of Latin America and that it is 

involved in the South American drug 

trade and radicalization efforts in Mexico. 

We also learned that Hezbollah has 

an active presence in four cities in Canada and 15 cities in the United States. 

I questioned the witnesses about 

Hezbollah’s activity in North America. 

I asked, If Hezbollah is not targeting 

the United States, what are they doing 

here? The response was that these activities were not significant because 

they were largely limited to fundraising. Mr. Speaker, I don’t see the 

distinction between terrorist activity 

and fundraising for terrorist activity. 

If Hezbollah and, by proxy, Iran are 

using safe havens in and around the 

United States, we must have a strategy 

to address it. 

As I said, this is of particular concern to western New York because one 

of the communities in which Hezbollah 

has a presence is Toronto, which is 90 

miles north of Buffalo. The Buffalo-Niagara region is within 500 miles of 55 

percent of the United States population and 62 percent of the Canadian 

population. Our Peace Bridge is the 

busiest border crossing between the 

United States and Canada. Our Niagara 

Power Project is the largest energy 

producer in New York State, and the 

Department of Homeland Security, citing budgetary constraints, just dropped 

our preparedness funding. You can understand if we don’t feel comfortable 

with Hezbollah 90 miles away for those 

who live in Buffalo. 

Mr. Speaker, this bill would address 

the threat Hezbollah poses to communities like mine. It requires the State 

Department to conduct a thorough assessment of the threats we face and to 

develop a strategy in coordination with 

our allies and partners in the region to 

address Hezbollah’s growing presence 

and activity in the Western Hemisphere. 

Again, I want to thank my colleague, 

JEFF DUNCAN, for his work on this issue 

and his leadership on this issue. I also 

want to thank Chairwoman ROSLEHTINEN and Ranking Member BERMAN for their support. 

I urge passage of this bill. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, 

I’m pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 

gentleman from New York (Mr. TURNER), a member on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Veterans’ 

Affairs, and Homeland Security Committee. 

Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. 

Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 

South Carolina for introducing this 

resolution. 

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 

3783, the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act. 

Last week’s events in the Middle 

East and Africa are a stark reminder of 

how fragile peace can be. Iran’s leaders 

have not been afraid to let the world 

know they will attack the United 

States and our allies, even going so far 

as to claim that they will wipe Israel 

off the face of the Earth. 

Iran is emerging as a threat much 

closer to our shores in South America. 

Earlier this year, Iran’s President, 

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, embarked on a 

trip that Chairman ROS-LEHTINEN accurately characterized as a ‘‘tour of tyrants.’’ He traveled throughout South 

America, where he met with Venezuela’s President Chavez and attended 

the presidential inauguration of Daniel 

Ortega in Nicaragua before going on to 

Cuba and Ecuador. 

Iran continues to deepen its relations 

with Latin America through its ties to 

the international Islamic Shia group, 


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September 19, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6083 

Hezbollah, a State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization. 

According to the Congressional Research Center, Hezbollah, along with 

Iran, has been linked to two bombings 

against Jewish targets in Argentina— 

the 1972 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires that killed 30 

people and the 1994 bombing of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association in 

Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. 

While increasing tensions between 

the United States, Israel, and Iran, we 

cannot simply afford to ignore the 

threats that are looming in South 

America. The Countering Iran in the 

Western Hemisphere Act of 2012 will 

ensure that threat assessments are 

conducted, that a cooperative strategy 

is put in place between the United 

States and her allies in the region, and 

our borders with Canada and Mexico 

are more secure. These efforts will 

allow our country to better protect our 

citizens and our interests both on our 

own soil and abroad. 

As we have seen, the threat is real 

and American lives are at stake. We 

cannot afford to ignore the potential 

threats to our national security that 

may stem from this area of the world. 

Mr. ENGEL. At this time, I yield 1 

minute to the gentleman from Ohio 

(Mr. KUCINICH). 

Mr. KUCINICH. I condemn all the violence that has been talked about here, 

and I also had the opportunity years 

ago to visit the synagogue in Buenos 

Aires that was the subject of that attack, and I paid my respects. 

I want to say that as I’ve heard this 

debate, there are two things that occur 

to me: number one, Congress has a 

right to ask for reports. It’s our constitutional obligation to find out what 

the administration is doing. I support 

Congress’ right to get information. But 

at the same time, when the debate 

takes us in a direction to where suddenly we’re at odds with Latin America, it is an argument for Congress to 

take a strong stand for diplomacy. I 

hope that as we get these reports, that 

we’re going to underscore the importance of diplomacy not only with respect to Latin America, but also with 

respect to Iran. The American people 

do not want another war, and we need 

diplomacy to take us in a direction 

that makes war not likely. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, at 

this time we have no further requests 

for time, and I yield back the balance 

of my time. 

Mr. ENGEL. I also yield back the balance of my time. 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to offer my strong support to H.R. 3783, 

Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere 

Act, which provides for a comprehensive strategy to counter Iran’s growing presence and 

hostile activity in the Western Hemisphere. I 

would also like to thank the gentleman from 

South Carolina, Mr. JEFF DUNCAN, for introducing this legislation highlighting the very real 

threat of Iran at America’s front door. 

If we have learned anything from the complete lack of progress in negotiations to keep 

Iran from making a nuclear weapon, it is that 

Iran is persistent in hostile action and insistent 

on establishing itself as a counterweight to 

U.S. power and ideals. 

Iran has engaged the U.S. through its Iran 

Revolutionary Guard Corp (IGRC) in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of American men and 

service women. Iran is buttressing the morally 

bankrupt Assad regime in Syria as Syria massacres its own people. And Iran is attacking 

our friends and allies through its proxies, like 

Hezbollah, which boasts and arsenal of 60 to 

70,000 rockets, many of which were supplied 

by Iran and are aimed at Israeli neighborhoods. 

Iran has earned its title as a state sponsor 

of terrorism. No target is off limits, and simply 

being of Jewish descent is apparently provocation enough. In 1994, Iran orchestrated one 

of the worst terrorist attacks in the Western 

Hemisphere against the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, murdering 85 

people and injuring 300 more. The peace of 

200,000 Jewish individuals, many of whom 

fled to Argentina during WWII, was shattered 

by this barbarous attack. 

Media reports over the last few years have 

shown an alarming trend of increased Iranian 

IGRC Qods force presence and activity in 

Latin America. Iran’s President Ahmadinejad, 

famous for his repeated denials of the Holocaust and dedication to wiping Israel off the 

map, has made visits to Latin America to cultivate alliances with Chavez, Ortega, Morales, 

Castro, and Correa. 

These leaders have stated their commitment 

to Iran’s nuclear activities and their faith that 

‘‘Iran can give a crushing response to the 

threats and sanctions imposed by the West 

and imperialism.’’ There is no question that 

Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are helping Iran evade the sanctions 

intended to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear sponsor of state terrorism. The question 

is, what are we doing about it? 

If Iran succeeds in creating a nuclear weapon, it is all too conceivable that these allies of 

Iran in the Western Hemisphere would be willing to provide a local launch pad, as Cuba did 

during the Cold War for Russian missiles 

aimed at the U.S. 

Mr. Speaker, these threats are all too real 

and all too proximate. With H.R. 3783, the Administration will be required to create a coordinated, inter-agency plan to ensure that the 

United States is working effectively to counter 

Iran’s hostile aspirations in the Western Hemisphere. I urge my colleagues to support this 

important and timely legislation. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

question is on the motion offered by 

the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 

ROS-LEHTINEN) that the House suspend 

the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3783, as 

amended 

The question was taken; and (twothirds being in the affirmative) the 

rules were suspended and the bill, as 

amended, was passed. 

The title was amended so as to read: 

‘‘A bill to provide for a comprehensive 

strategy to counter Iran’s growing hostile presence and activity in the Western Hemisphere, and for other purposes.’’. 

A motion to reconsider was laid on 

the table. 

b 1510 

EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE TOWARD ESTABLISHMENT OF A 

DEMOCRATIC AND PROSPEROUS 

REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I 

move to suspend the rules and agree to 

the resolution (H. Res. 526) expressing 

the sense of the House of Representatives with respect toward the establishment of a democratic and prosperous 

Republic of Georgia and the establishment of a peaceful and just resolution 

to the conflict with Georgia’s internationally recognized borders, as 

amended. 

The Clerk read the title of the resolution. 

The text of the resolution is as follows: 

H. RES. 526 

Whereas a democratic and stable Republic 

of Georgia is in the political, security, and 

economic interests of the United States; 

Whereas the security of the Black Sea and 

South Caucasus region is important for 

Euro-Atlantic security, transportation, and 

energy diversification to and from Central 

Asia; 

Whereas Georgia has been a reliable partner and ally in enhancing global peace and 

stability with its significant contribution to 

operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; 

Whereas the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, signed in January 2009, outlines the importance of the bilateral relationship as well as the intent of 

both countries to expand democracy and economic programs, enhance defense and security cooperation, further trade and energy 

cooperation, and build people-to-people cultural exchanges; 

Whereas in October 2010, at the meeting of 

the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, Secretary of State Hillary 

Rodham Clinton stated, ‘‘the United States 

will not waver in its support for Georgia’s 

sovereignty and territorial integrity’’; 

Whereas successive United States Administrations have supported Georgia’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); 

Whereas it was declared by the Heads of 

State and Government participating in the 

2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest, and reaffirmed in 2009 at the Summit in Strasbourg 

and Kehl and in 2010 at the Summit in Lisbon, that Georgia is a NATO aspirant country, and will become a member of NATO; 

Whereas the North Atlantic Council Foreign Ministers, meeting on December 7, 2011, 

applauded the significant operational support provided to NATO by aspirant partners 

Georgia, the former Yugoslav Republic of 

Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and 

Herzegovina; 

Whereas the August 2008, military conflict 

between Russia and Georgia resulted in civilian and military causalities, the violation of 

Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and increased the number of internally 

displaced persons there; 

Whereas large numbers of the Georgian 

population remain forcefully displaced from 

the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of 

Georgia as a result of the August 2008 military conflict as well as the earlier conflicts 

in the 1990s; 

Whereas since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has been reaffirmed by the 

international community in 36 United Nations Security Council resolutions; 

Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire 

agreement negotiated by the European 


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