Conference of Presidents Lauds Bipartisan Congressional Letters Urging "Crippling Sanctions" on Iran

Lauds Senate and House of Representatives for Support of U.S.-Israel Relationship

New York, April 15, 2010 … Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations lauded Representatives Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) and Mike Pence (R-IN) and all 364 Representatives as well as Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and all 78 Senators who signed the bipartisan letters urging President Obama to impose “crippling sanctions” on Iran and prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

“We thank Representatives Jackson and Pence and Senators Schumer and Graham as well as all the Representatives and Senators who signed these letters, urging President Obama to maintain his focus on Iran and recognize the severity of Iran’s progress on its nuclear program. The overwhelming bipartisan support on this issue clearly demonstrates the commitment by the members of Congress to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapons capability. In addition to sanctions with real impact, we wholeheartedly support the call by both the House of Representatives and the Senate to begin this effort by ‘reversing the practice under which the U.S. government has awarded at least $107 billion over the past decade in federal contracts to companies investing in or doing business in Iran.’ A nuclear-armed Iran poses a threat not just to the Middle East but to the entire Western world and deserves the Administration’s immediate and unwavering attention,” said Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.

In addition, the Jewish leaders lauded Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and all 76 Senators who signed the bipartisan letter the Senate presented to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, reaffirming the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship, as well as the House of Representatives, which recently sent a similar letter signed by 333 Representatives to Secretary Clinton.

“We are grateful to Senators Boxer and Isakson for their leadership in moving this letter forward and all the 76 Senators who signed the letter. This is a significant and valuable display of bipartisan support for the special relationship between the United States and Israel. These long-time allies share many important and strategic interests, including the fight against terrorism, the necessity of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and the importance of moving forward toward peace in the region. As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel also shares key values with the U.S. that are reflected in this relationship. While disagreements may arise, the bonds between the U.S. and Israel remain unbreakable and of vital importance to both. We thank the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for their reaffirmation of mutual commitment to the relationship and their desire to move forward to achieve Israel’s security and peace in the region,” said Solow and Hoenlein.