{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/house-foreign-affairs-committee-passes-bill-block-ransoms-iran", "House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Bill to Block Ransoms to Iran", "2016-09-14", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014\u00a0During today\u2019s House Foreign Affairs Committee markup, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted for H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act, to ensure there are no future cash payouts to Iran, the world\u2019s leading state sponsor of terrorism. \u00a0The legislation was introduced in response to the Obama Administration\u2019s secretly organized military operation to deliver $400 million to Iran in exchange for the release of detained Americans.[1] \u00a0Though the Administration claims the payments, totaling $1.7 billion, are part of a decades old settlement, on August 18, 2016, a Department of State spokesman admitted the initial $400 million cash payment was \u201cleverage\u201d to gain the release of Americans held hostage by\u00a0Iran.[2] \u00a0H.R. 5931 passed out of committee by a vote of 21-16.\nCongressman Brooks said, \u201cI applaud Chairman Royce for introducing this legislation following the Obama Administration\u2019s violation of longstanding U.S. policy against ransom payments.\u201d \u00a0Brooks continued, \u201cWe know that terrorist groups use ransom money to purchase weapons and further recruitment efforts. \u00a0These payments to Iran only serve to encourage future kidnappings and finance Islamic terrorism the Administration claims it is combatting.\u201d\nBrooks concluded, \u201cThe Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act requires greater transparency on future settlements to ensure they are not being used to pay ransom in violation of U.S. policy, for any reason. \u00a0I\u2019m pleased this legislation was reported favorably out of committee and I urge my colleagues to bring it to the House floor for a vote.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###\n\u00a0\n\t  \n\t\t[1] http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sent-two-more-planeloads-of-cash-to-iran-after-initial-payment-1473208256\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[2] http://www.ibtimes.com/us-concedes-400-million-payment-iran-was-leverage-release-prisoners-2404037", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/house-foreign-affairs-committee-passes-bill-block-ransoms-iran"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5575599391013384, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}