Dupage Policy Journal

Under the authority of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA),  U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) demanded access on Tuesday to two side agreements negotiated between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The measure directs the House parliamentarian to not recognize the 60-day congressional review period until the side agreements are transmitted to Congress. It also prohibits the president from lifting statutory sanctions against Iran until Congress has the opportunity to both fully review the JCPOA and related documents, including side agreements and to vote on a disapproval resolution.

“In May, the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed, and President Obama signed into law, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which requires the administration to transmit to Congress all documents related to the main Iran nuclear agreement, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) -- including side agreements — prior to a 60-day review period and subsequent vote," Roskam said. "A day after the nuclear accord was announced, reports surfaced that Iran and the IAEA struck two side agreements related to Tehran’s past nuclear work. In clear violation of federal law, repeated requests from leading Democrats and Republicans to review the side agreements were rebuffed by the Obama administration. Congressional briefings provided by administration officials are a legally insufficient substitute for providing the actual text of these documents."

Roskam has represented Illinois' Sixth District in the U.S. House since 2007. Born in Hinsdale, Illinois, in 1961, Roskam previously served as chief deputy whip from 2011 to 2014. Roskam was educated at University of Illinois & Chicago-Kent College of Law and serves on the Ways and Means Committee.