Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-333
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Arms control
Arms sales
Biological warfare
Chemical warfare
China
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Commercial blacklisting
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Conventional weapons
Democracy
Diplomacy
Dissenters
East Asia
Economic assistance
Energy
Export controls
Export finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial institutions
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign agents
Foreign investments
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Human rights
Insurance companies
International broadcasting
Investment guaranty insurance
Iran
Libya
Malaysia
Middle East and North Africa
National self-determination
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear nonproliferation
Nuclear weapons
Opposition (Political science)
Pakistan
Petroleum engineering
Petroleum industry
President and foreign policy
Presidential appointments
Radio stations
Referendum
Religion
Religious liberty
Right of assembly
Russia
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
Sex discrimination
South Asia
State-sponsored terrorism
Sunset legislation
Technology transfer
Television stations
Terrorism
Treaties
Weapons of mass destruction
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-09
text: 
Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2005 - States that: (1) U.S. sanctions, controls, and regulations relating to weapons of mass destruction with respect to Iran shall remain in effect until the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Iran has permanently and verifiably dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs and has committed to combating such weapons' proliferation; and (2) such certification shall have no effect on other sanctions relating to Iranian support of international terrorism. 
 
Amends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to: (1) eliminate mandatory sanction provisions respecting Libya; (2) impose mandatory sanctions on a person or entity that aids Iran acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction or destabilizing types and numbers of conventional weapons; (3) revise multilateral regime reporting requirements, including provisions respecting sanctions on individuals aiding Iranian petroleum development; (4) enlarge the scope of sanctionable entities; and (5) eliminate the sunset provision.
 
Declares that U.S. policy should support: (1) efforts by the Iranian people to exercise self-determination over their form of government; and (2) an internationally-overseen referendum in Iran. 
 
Authorizes the President to provide financial and political assistance to eligible foreign and domestic individuals and groups that support democracy and advocate nonproliferation in Iran. Directs the President to notify (which may be in classified form) the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days prior to designating an eligible opposition group.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should appoint a special assistant on Iranian matters; (2) U.S. representatives and officials in international fora should express support for democratic transition in Iran; (3) representatives of the Government of Iran should be denied access to U.S. Government buildings; (4) efforts to halt the Iranian nuclear weapons program should be intensified; and (5) U.S. officials and representatives should strongly support indigenous efforts in Iran calling for democratic elections. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-03-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1596-1597)
action_date: 2005-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2005-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate