McConnell Changes Course on Iran Bill, Vows to Allow Committee Process
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., reversed course on the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 on March 4, and pledged in comments on the Senate floor to instead move the legislation, S-615, through the committee process. McConnell previously…
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scheduled a Senate floor vote on the legislation, but Democrats objected, including some of the bill’s co-sponsors (see 1503050007). “The actions we’ve taken would allow the sponsors of this sensible, bipartisan legislation to begin the debate next week,” said McConnell (here). “And it will allow for the Foreign Relations Committee to follow the regular order and debate and vote on the bill. And if the committee reports a bill, the committee bill will become the text that the full Senate debates. This is the regular order.” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., praised McConnell’s decision in a statement (here). The Obama administration faces a March 24 deadline to strike a tentative agreement with Iran on ongoing nuclear enrichment negotiations. The legislation would require congressional approval for any final pact with Iran, and would also put some constraints on sanctions relief.