WSJ: Bill Giving Congress Right to Weigh In on Potential Iran Nuclear Deal Heads to White House
WASHINGTON—The House on Thursday passed legislation giving Congress a chance to review any nuclear agreement reached with Iran next month.
A bill that took weeks of painstaking deliberations to finally clear the Senate last week sailed through the House Thursday, passing 400-25 under an expedited procedure used for uncontroversial measures.
The bill now goes to the White House, where President Barack Obama is expected to sign it.
“Today we’ll actively ensure that Congress and the people have an opportunity to review any agreement with Iran,” House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) said Thursday before the vote.
The bill would prevent Mr. Obama from waiving sanctions on Iran for 30 days while Congress reviews any final agreement to diminish Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Lawmakers would then be able to vote to disapprove the deal, or take no action.
Skeptics have noted that even if lawmakers voted to disapprove an Iran deal, Mr. Obama could veto that action—and that critics of any deal aren’t expected to have enough votes to override a veto.