South OC Times

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) testified before the House Rules Committee today, advocating for her bill, H.R. 6323, the Iran Counterterrorism Act of 2023.

During her testimony, Rep. Kim expressed gratitude towards the Committee for considering the bill, stating, "I want to thank the Chairman and the Members of the Rules Committee for considering H.R. 6323, the Iran Counterterrorism Act."

Highlighting the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Rep. Kim emphasized the importance of addressing Iran's support for terrorism, particularly in relation to Israel. She stated, "Israel is confronting a critical moment as it fights for its right to exist. Iran and its proxies continue to attack our greatest ally in the middle east and the lone democracy in the region."

Drawing attention to recent aggressive actions by Iran, Rep. Kim noted, "Last weekend, Iran attacked Israel with drones and missiles launched from Iranian soil. This shows how the ayatollahs are seeking to open up another front as Israel fights for survival."

Rep. Kim underscored the need for stricter oversight regarding the waiver of U.S. sanctions on Iran, as she explained, "H.R. 6323 does not affect past waivers, but it will help ensure that waiver authority cannot be abused. This bill would require Iran to end its support for international terrorism before another waiver could be invoked."

The proposed legislation aims to establish a congressional review process for national security interest waivers related to sanctions on Iran. Rep. Kim elaborated, "If Iran continues to fund terror, and the White House seeks a sanctions waiver, this legislation will give Congress a period to review that action. It will also give Congress an opportunity to reject a misguided waiver. This is commonsense."

Additionally, Rep. Kim clarified that H.R. 6323 does not impact existing sanctions exemptions for essential items such as food, medicine, and medical devices, ensuring humanitarian considerations are maintained within the sanctions framework.

Closing her testimony, Rep. Kim urged her colleagues to support the bill, stating, "I urge all of my colleagues to take action to confront Iran and stand with Israel."

The Iran Counterterrorism Act of 2023 has garnered bipartisan support, with the Financial Services Committee passing the legislation in November. Rep. Kim expressed confidence that the bill will receive backing from Members on both sides of the aisle when it is considered on the House Floor.

Rep. Kim concluded her remarks by thanking the Committee for their time and expressing readiness to address any inquiries from fellow Members.