This afternoon Senate leadership sent out a "Hotline" notice to the offices of all Senate Democrats communicating the following: "The Majority Leader asks unanimous consent that the Senate take up and pass CAL #215, S. 2799. CAL #215, S. 2799, Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2009. If your Senator has an objection, please contact the Democratic Cloakroom." A similar notice was presumably sent out from Republican leadership to Republican offices.
It remains to be seen if any senator will object to the request (if even one Senator does -- and this means putting an informal and usually anonymous "hold" on the bill -- then the bill will not move by Unanimous Consent for the time being).
In response to the Hotline request, APN sent the following to all Senate offices:
Dear XXX,
Earlier today Senate leadership today hotlined S. 2799, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2009. APN opposes passage of the bill in its current form.
Click here to download a table containing a section-by-section analysis of the bill, including proposed amendments.
We strongly urge Senators to object to this attempt to short-circuit debate (and potential amendments) and fast-track a piece of complex and far-reaching legislation - legislation that would impact virtually every aspect of and every option for US policy toward Iran now and in the future.
It remains to be seen if any senator will object to the request (if even one Senator does -- and this means putting an informal and usually anonymous "hold" on the bill -- then the bill will not move by Unanimous Consent for the time being).
In response to the Hotline request, APN sent the following to all Senate offices:
Dear XXX,
Earlier today Senate leadership today hotlined S. 2799, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2009. APN opposes passage of the bill in its current form.
Click here to download a table containing a section-by-section analysis of the bill, including proposed amendments.
We strongly urge Senators to object to this attempt to short-circuit debate (and potential amendments) and fast-track a piece of complex and far-reaching legislation - legislation that would impact virtually every aspect of and every option for US policy toward Iran now and in the future.
We have opposed many of the sanctions included in S. 2799 -
particularly those focused on Iran's access to refined petroleum
products - since they were first suggested. We believe these
sanctions reflect a misguided and potentially self-defeating approach
for the US to the challenge posed by Iran's nuclear program. Our full
position on the proper response to Iran can be read here.
We oppose this bill, not because we oppose all sanctions. In fact, we have supported and continue to support smart, targeted sanctions that are part of a broader US strategy to deal with this critical foreign policy and national security challenge. Unfortunately the refined petroleum sanctions in S. 2799 are not smart, targeted sanctions.
We understand that this is a complex issue and that many have not had the opportunity to closely study the bill and its potential problematic implications. For this reason, we have prepared a table containing a section-by-section analysis of the bill (bill text, objections to specific provisions, and the simple amendments that could be made to make the language consistent with the stated intent of the bill and with US national security interests).
Click here to download the table.
We urge Senators to oppose S. 2799 in its current form and to refuse to agree to the hotline request.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this issue.
Sincerely,
Lara Friedman
Director of Policy and Government Relations
Americans for Peace Now
We oppose this bill, not because we oppose all sanctions. In fact, we have supported and continue to support smart, targeted sanctions that are part of a broader US strategy to deal with this critical foreign policy and national security challenge. Unfortunately the refined petroleum sanctions in S. 2799 are not smart, targeted sanctions.
- They are sanctions designed to target the Iranian people, in the hope that if the people become miserable enough they will pressure their government to change course. This is a strategy that few experts believe will work, and a strategy that has a very poor track record in other contexts (Iraq, Cuba, Gaza). Indeed, experience has demonstrated with sanctions like these, the most likely and immediate result will be a backlash by the people of Iran against the United States, not against the Iranian regime.
- They are sanctions designed to take authority away from the President on an issue critical to US national security.
- They are sanctions that will undermine the ability of the United States to gain the support and cooperation of other countries in order to deal effectively with the major national security challenges posed by Iran.
- Those are just some of the problems with the bill. There are others.
We understand that this is a complex issue and that many have not had the opportunity to closely study the bill and its potential problematic implications. For this reason, we have prepared a table containing a section-by-section analysis of the bill (bill text, objections to specific provisions, and the simple amendments that could be made to make the language consistent with the stated intent of the bill and with US national security interests).
Click here to download the table.
We urge Senators to oppose S. 2799 in its current form and to refuse to agree to the hotline request.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this issue.
Sincerely,
Lara Friedman
Director of Policy and Government Relations
Americans for Peace Now
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8/23 
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