tomgraves.house.gov

Graves, Tom
Contact:
Garrett Hawkins 202.225.5211



Rep. Tom Graves Votes to Prohibit Ransom Payments to Iran


Washington, Sep 23 -

Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) last night voted for and the House passed the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act (H.R. 5931). The bill reiterates that U.S. policy is not to pay ransoms and prohibits any cash payments to Iran until the president certifies Iran is not sponsoring terrorism.

“This administration seems to have no boundaries in their willingness to bend over backwards for Iran,” said Rep. Graves. “Most recently, the administration broke long-standing U.S. policy and paid what amounts to a $1.7 billion ransom to Iran for several American hostages. While we’re all glad the hostages were safely returned, paying a ransom only emboldens our enemies to take Americans prisoner and provides Iran – the largest state sponsor of terrorism – nearly two billion dollars in cash. This legislation is now necessary to stop this administration’s dangerous efforts to appease Iran.”   

###