REAFFIRMING IRAN REMAINS THE LARGEST STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM

REAFFIRMING IRAN REMAINS THE LARGEST STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2392-H2395] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REAFFIRMING IRAN REMAINS THE LARGEST STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the resolution (H. Res. 1099) reaffirming Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 1099 Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran remains the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism and provides substantial financial and military support to groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis; Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran poses a direct and persistent threat to the United States and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American citizens; Whereas, according to the Pentagon, Iranian backed proxy militias are responsible for the deaths of at least 603 United States servicemembers in Iraq, roughly 1 in every 6 American combat fatalities in Iraq from 2003 through 2011; Whereas the Iranian regime is responsible for executing dozens of assassination plots targeting American citizens and serving government officials on United States soil; Whereas Tehran continues to harbor a network of senior al- Qaeda leaders, providing them with sanctuary space to fundraise in support of its fighters; Whereas, in January 2024, United States servicemembers, Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett were killed in an Iranian backed proxy attack on Tower 22 in Jordan; Whereas the regime's refusal to abandon its nuclear program and related missile and conventional weapons activities further resulted in the reimposition of 6 United Nations Security Council Resolutions targeting the Iranian regime in September 2025; and Whereas, according to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, Iran has amassed a large stockpile of enriched uranium and continues to block access to undeclared sites in Iran affiliated with their ``big, ambitious nuclear program'': Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives declares it is the policy of the United States that Iran continues to be the largest state sponsor of terrorism. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida. General Leave Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida? [[Page H2393]] There was no objection. Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is very simple. It is reaffirming that Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism. Why is Iran the largest state sponsor of terrorism? Why is that something that is said? Why must we reaffirm this? It is because they have spent the last 47 years targeting and attacking the United States of America every single chance that they have. In April of 2025, Houthi terrorists attacked the USS Harry Truman, causing a U.S. fighter jet to sink into the ocean. In June of 2025, Iran-backed militias attacked at least three U.S. bases in Syria and two bases in Iraq. In January of 2024, Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed three U.S. servicemembers and wounded more than 40 more in a drone attack against tower 22 at a military base in Jordan. Before that, Iran-backed militias wounded three U.S. servicemembers in an attack at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. Before that, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed 46 Americans and kidnapped at least 12 Americans in the October 7 massacre. Just prior to that, President Biden unfroze $6 billion of Iranian assets. That doesn't make them the largest state sponsor of terrorism, but I just thought it is an interesting point to put into the timeline. Before that, an Iranian drone attack killed an American contractor and wounded five U.S. servicemembers and another contractor in a drone strike on a coalition base in Syria. Before that, an IRGC captain orchestrated the killing of an American citizen in Baghdad. Before that, an Iranian rocket attack killed an American citizen in Iraqi Kurdistan. Before that, Iran-backed militias wounded two U.S. servicemembers in a series of rocket and drone attacks against U.S. Forces in Iraq and Syria. Before that, an Iran-backed militia fired a rocket at coalition forces in Erbil, Iraq, wounding a U.S. servicemember and four U.S. civilian contractors. Before that, Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed an American civilian contractor and wounded several U.S. servicemembers in a rocket attack at K-1 Air Base, Kirkuk, Iraq. Before that, Iran held 10 U.S. Navy sailors at gunpoint, on their knees, on the deck of an Iranian boat. {time} 1440 Before that, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed an American citizen and his wife in a drive-by shooting. Before that, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed two American citizens serving in the IDF. The list goes on and on, Mr. Speaker, pages and pages of Iran killing Americans. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying something that should not be controversial at all in this House. In fact, it has been the position of this House throughout. The Iranian regime is a malign, nefarious, and deadly actor. It has appointed terrorist groups on militias across the Middle East, slaughtered its own people, quashed dissent, and threatened Americans and our interests for decades. Members of both sides of the aisle know this. Congress has said it many times before. In fact, during my years in Congress, this body has passed dozens of resolutions and laws recognizing Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. There is no dispute there. This is not a dispute. Let us be honest about what this resolution is. It is not new policy. It is not new information. It does nothing to protect a single American, servicemember, or ally. I think it is about politics. Maybe it is a stunt because of what Members are going to debate right after this. I don't think this accomplishes what Chairman Mast or the Republicans think it does, because in no way does this have any effect on the War Powers Resolution debate later today. People can agree--and we all do--and we all know that Iran is bad. People also should agree that the President should come to Congress if he wants to make the case for war. These two truths are not incompatible. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to counter Iran's dangerous behavior. Congress has imposed layer after layer of sanctions, disrupted terrorist financing networks, strengthened regional partnerships, and worked with our allies to constrain Iran's nuclear program. Unfortunately, President Donald Trump has often upended or ignored bipartisan work: for example, when he pardoned the founder of Binance, an enabler of the Iran regime that allowed his company to be used to fund Iran's terror proxies. Past efforts were designed to contain and deter Iran's threats while protecting Americans' interests in avoiding a broader regional war. Today, Americans find ourselves in a very different situation. At President Trump's own behest, the United States is now engaged in direct military conflict with Iran, a conflict that was initiated without congressional authorization and without a clear explanation to the American people for what the endgame is. To be clear: No one in this Chamber doubts the danger posed by the Iranian regime. Recognizing that threat does not mean abandoning our Constitution. It does not mean Congress should surrender its responsibility to debate and authorize war. It certainly does not mean we should walk blindly into a conflict with a deadly serious adversary without our own serious or clear strategy for what comes next. The stakes here are not symbolic. They aren't talking points. American servicemembers are in harm's way. The Middle East is on the brink of a wider conflict. The consequences of a war with Iran could shape the region--and American security--for decades. Instead of debating yet another resolution stating something that we all already know, this body should be asking some real questions: What are the objectives of this war? What is the strategy for preventing regional escalation? What is the plan for the day after? What will this cost the American people? The American people deserve those answers, and Congress deserves a vote. Our constituents are waiting to hear. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my colleague across the aisle for the agreement that we have on this. To quote my colleague just now: There is no dispute that Iran remains the largest state sponsor of terror. He may not expect me to agree on this, but I would also agree with him on this point: There is absolutely nothing that this resolution is going to do to protect any American or any American servicemember, nor any previous piece of paper, strongly worded letter, or anything else that this body has done that has been successful in protecting America from the largest state sponsor of terror. It is only two actions: number one, President Trump putting Qasem Soleimani into about five separate pieces on the side of an Iraqi tarmac; and, number two, the actions that President Trump has taken in this operation to destroy every single piece of Iranian military hardware that can reach out and touch an American or has

Referenced legislation: HRES1099, HRES1099