releases: https://byrne.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/byrne-votes-to-end-ransom-payments-to-iran
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| https://byrne.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/byrne-votes-to-end-ransom-payments-to-iran | Byrne Votes to End Ransom Payments to Iran | 2016-09-23 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | AL | Bradley Byrne | B001289 | byrne.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted last night in favor of H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act. The bill would prohibit future cash payments to Iran until the nation stops sponsoring terrorism and is no longer involved in money laundering. The bill also requires 30-day Congressional notification and review of any future settlements related to the U.S. Iran Claims Tribunal. In a speech from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Byrne helped lead debate on the bill. In his remarks, Byrne outlined a series of concerns with the cash payments to Iran. Byrne said: “Iran is no friend of the United States, and their efforts have resulted in the deaths of U.S. citizens and service members. So why in the world is the United States sending them cash payments in the first place? “Ultimately, the United States cannot continue to give in to Iran. Whether it is their nuclear program or their kidnapping of U.S. citizens, we simply cannot keep making ‘deals’ with Iran in which the Ayatollah benefits and the American people suffer.” The legislation passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 254 to 163. Below is a complete transcript of Rep. Byrne’s remarks in support of the legislation. Byrne said: “On June 24, 2015, President Obama stood in the Roosevelt Room of the White House and said “I am reaffirming that the United States government will not make concessions, such as paying ransom, to terrorist groups holding American hostages.” “This position shouldn’t have been surprising. It has long been the position of the U.S. government to not pay ransoms to terrorist organizations, for doing so only encourages further kidnappings and puts more American lives at risk. “Despite this reassurance from President Obama, on January 17, 2016, an unmarked cargo plane landed at a European airport. On this plane were wooden pallets stacked with unmarked, foreign currency– $400 million worth to be exact. Who was waiting at the airport to accept this money? Iran. “On that exact same day, several Americans who had been held prisoner in Iran were released. “That, Mr. Speaker, is a ransom payment. “Since then, we have learned that the full U.S. payment to Iran totaled $1.7 billion. The money was related to a decades old dispute about an Iranian arms sale. “There are a lot of concerning issues at play here. “First, by giving money to Iran, the United States is supporting the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. “Iran uses their money and resources to support groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and other radical terrorist groups in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. “Iran is no friend of the United States, and their efforts have resulted in the deaths of U.S. citizens and service members. So why in the world is the United States sending them cash payments in the first place? “Second, the United States should never pay a ransom. I know they claim that the $1.7 billion payment was a ‘settlement,’ but let’s get real for a minute. The payment was made on the exact same day the Americans were released. “Let’s look in the dictionary for a minute. Ransom is defined as ‘a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner.’ That is exactly what happened here. “Iran knows it was a ransom payment. An Iranian general is quoted as saying that ‘the money was returned for the freedom of the U.S. spy and it was not related to the [nuclear] negotiations.’ “So Iran knows it was a ransom, the American people know it was ransom. Well how about the State Department? “When pushed on this topic by the media, a Statement Department spokesman said that it wasn’t ransom but rather ‘leverage.’ What is the difference? “The American prisoners in Iran were not released until the cash payments occurred. You can try to hide the truth by calling it ‘leverage’ or a ‘coincidence.’ But the fact is this payment was a ransom. “Just ask the Obama Justice Department. Press reports indicate that Assistant Attorney General John Carlin raised the concern that the cash payment to Iran would send a signal to Iran and the world that the U.S. had changed its ransom policy. “This isn’t some radical conspiracy theory we are talking about here. This is the exact same concern raised by President Obama’s own Justice Department. “Since this ransom payment occurred, Iran has detained several more foreign citizens, including Americans, French, British, and Canadian citizens. Sadly, I expect our Iranian friends are already making their ransom demands. “The third major concern I have is that the payments were clearly done in way to hide them from the American public. The payments were made in cash. “According to an international body responsible for combating money laundering known as the Financial Action Task Force, the ‘physical transportation of currency’ is ‘one of the main methods used to move criminal assets, launder money and finance terrorism.’ “If this whole ordeal was public and on the ‘up and up,’ then why did the U.S. make this payment in cash? “Now, the Obama Administration originally said that the payment had to be in cash because financial sanctions prevent us from engaging in wire transfers with Iranian banks. “Well, turns out that isn’t true. In fact, on at least two occasions, the U.S. has made wire transfers to the Iranian government. “According to Politico, in July 2015, the U.S. sent Iran approximately $848,000 to settle a claim over architectural drawings. The wire transfers didn’t stop there though. The U.S. wired Iran almost $10 million in April of this year to pay for 32 metric tons of heavy water. “Here is another issue with the cash payments: Iran has a track record of money laundering and making cash payments will result in it being even harder to track their illicit activity. “Cash does not have an electronic signature, so the money could eventually become untraceable. This will make it almost impossible for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to track where the money is going. “In other words, the cash could be transferred to a group like Hamas or Hezbollah and the United States may never know. That is deeply troubling. “So, Mr. Speaker, this legislation makes one thing crystal clear: the United States government is not in the business of paying ransom. “Specific to Iran, the legislation would prohibit future cash payments to Iran until the nation stops sponsoring terrorism and is no longer involved in money laundering. “To boost transparency and accountability, the legislation also requires 30-day Congressional notification and review of any future settlements related to the U.S. Iran Claims Tribunal. This way Congress will have an opportunity to review any future payments instead of them being secretly executed in the dark of night. “Ultimately, the United States cannot continue to give in to Iran. Whether it is their nuclear program or their kidnapping of U.S. citizens, we simply cannot keep making ‘deals’ with Iran in which the Ayatollah benefits and the American people suffer. “We need to stop empowering Iran and instead start weakening them. We must stop giving in to Iran and start standing up to Iran. By putting our foot down, the American people and our allies in the Middle East will be safer and stronger.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |