Washington (AP) — Congress’ vote on the international accord to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanction relief stands as the most significant national security decision since lawmakers voted in 2002 to authorize the invasion of Iraq.
Six weeks from a September vote, Republicans in the House of Representatives said Monday they have the 218 Republican votes for a resolution of disapproval, with Rep. Peter Roskam calling the accord a “dangerous agreement.” President Barack Obama, meanwhile, is steadily securing the backing of Democrats crucial to ensuring the deal goes forward.
In this photo taken Sept. 17, 2014, Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans said Monday that they have the GOP votes to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal as Democrats stepped up their support of the agreement the Obama administration and other world powers negotiated with Tehran. Since Republicans hold a commanding 246 seats in the House, it was widely expected that the GOP would come up with 218 votes to support a resolution of disapproval, which has been introduced by Peter Roskam. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The lobbying is already intense, with a group backed by the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee investing in a multimillion-dollar ad campaign criticizing the deal. Organizations supporting the pact are pressuring lawmakers with calls and letters.
Here is a news guide to the pact:
REVIEW PERIOD
Congress is in the midst of a 60-day review of the historic deal and has until Sept. 17 to vote on a resolution either approving or disapproving the pact. During this time, Obama may not “waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of statutory sanctions with respect to Iran,” which apply to the congressionally mandated penalties on various energy and banking sectors.
Congress returns from its August break on Sept. 8, and the Republican-led House and Senate are expected to vote for a resolution of disapproval and send it to Obama.
The House is expected to vote first since sanctions apply to money and under the Constitution, all revenue legislation starts in the House.
The president will have 12 days to veto the measure, as he has promised. The House and Senate then would have 10 days to vote on overriding a veto.
IF CONGRESS DISAPPROVES OF THE DEAL, THE VOTES OBAMA WOULD NEED TO SUSTAIN A VETO
In the 434-member House, one-third plus one of those voting. There is one vacancy in the House — former Rep. Aaron Schock’s seat in a Republican-leaning district. It will be filled in a special election on Sept. 10.
In the 100-member Senate, one-third plus one of those voting.
Only one chamber of Congress is needed to sustain a veto.
Republicans uniformly oppose the deal. But House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has said there are a sufficient number of Democratic votes in the House to sustain a veto.
The White House expressed confidence on Monday that Obama’s veto would be sustained in the House though the administration was still pressing its case with lawmakers.
THIS WEEK
Obama was meeting with American Jewish leaders on Tuesday and delivering a speech on Wednesday on the Iran deal.
Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on Wednesday is to brief members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which also is holding two hearings to hear from experts.
Wendy Sherman, undersecretary of state for political affairs who helped negotiate the deal, and Adam Szubin, acting undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial crimes, testify on Wednesday before the Senate Banking Committee.
In another sign of the administration’s all-out campaign, Sherman, Szubin and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz also will brief senators on Wednesday in a closed-door session.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has a hearing Tuesday to hear expert testimony.
