Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which includes a five-year extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, 262-159. The bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly last month, and now heads to the president's desk to become law.
The Iran Sanctions Act is the foundation of most American sanctions on the Iranian regime and was set to expire this year.
AIPAC played an important role in ensuring the passage of the Iran Sanctions Act in 1996 and has consistently lobbied for the legislation to be extended.
We thank the Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate for including this critical provision, which is essential to maintaining the economic pressure on Iran.
Below are more key news updates. Continue to follow our social media channels to stay informed in real-time.
Jake Freedman, AIPAC
Senate Ag. Committee passes Farm Bill, includes major increase in BARD funding
Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed the Farm Bill, which includes a $20 million increase from current authorization and a $16.5 million increase from last year’s appropriation for the U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD), a major increase in funding for the program that AIPAC lobbied for.
The bill now heads to the Senate for full consideration, which includes similar language to the Farm Bill passed by the House.
BARD supports U.S. and Israeli research into cutting-edge agricultural technology. BARD funding helps create jobs in the U.S. and advances agricultural innovation, benefiting both U.S. and Israeli farmers and businesses.
AIPAC thanks Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and John Boozman (R-AR) for their leadership in including this important provision.
Iran struck vessel with U.S. personnel aboard earlier in week
Earlier this week, a U.S.-contracted vessel sailing "around the Strait of Hormuz" was struck in an Iranian attack, containing at least one missile and four drones, two sources told Fox News' Trey Yingst.
Also earlier this week, on Monday, the U.S. military destroyed two Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats in the Strait of Hormuz, after the IRGC attempted to steal a U.S. Navy drone patrolling the Strait, U.S. officials told Axios.
CENTCOM Spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed the attempted seizure, saying, "Iranian small boats recently attempted to take possession of a U.S. unmanned surface vessel, but they were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded... The surface drone remains under U.S. operational control."
Honoring Masha Amini, who was murdered by Iranian regime four years ago today
Mahsa Amini's killing at the hands of the Iranian regime sparked Iran's "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests and is being honored by those who survived the uprising.
Amini was arrested on September 23, 2022, by regime forces for improperly wearing her hijab, and died three days later as a result of her beatings, a U.N. human rights expert found.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
