WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Representative Mark Walker (NC-06) delivers remarks on the House floor in response to the Administration’s announcement of the P5+1 nuclear agreement with Iran.

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

The President’s foreign policy has been disastrous for more than six years. If you’re keeping score at home, feel free to add another error in the box score labeled - The Failed Obama Doctrine.

President Obama’s insistence on force-feeding a deal with Iran is troubling. The unrelenting attempt to boost his legacy has created a gross lack of discernment. The President and his State Department have left a trail of detrimental decisions with deteriorating relationships throughout the world.

How can we forget the President’s “Blurred Red Lines” in demanding that Syria’s Assad end his Human Rights violations? After the President drew his line in the sand, Assad responded with the bombing of hospitals and the use of chemical weapons against his own people.

The President has failed to show any initiative or strategy and has consistently been shown leading from behind.  Meanwhile – of all people – Russia’s Vladimir Putin was the one that intervened in this international crisis. Speaking of Putin, the President’s posture with Putin has been pitiful.

Of course, it was President Obama who mocked Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney’s “1980’s” concern of Russia being a threat. Maybe President Obama needs to revisit Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy of the 1980’s.

Wasn’t it Vice-President Joe Biden that claimed the President’s work in Iraq would be one of the greatest achievements of this administration? While the President has been focused with his radical promise to close Guantanamo Bay; meanwhile, the rest of the world is on fire.

After Syria, Russia, Benghazi, Iraq…Yet, here we are on the precipice of a potential deal with Iran - the world’s leader in state sponsored terrorism! All the while we’ve given the cold shoulder to Israel – our greatest ally in the Middle East for generations.

The great majority of Americans had hoped that our President would find the strength to increase the sanctions on Iran rather than create a path for more nuclear capability.

As a member of Congress, I will stand against any Iranian agreement that doesn’t completely strip Iran of all nuclear capability. And while we’re at it, Mr. President… maybe it’s time to stop ignoring the imprisonment of Saeed Abedini, Jason Rezaian, Bob Levinson and Amir Hekmati – our four Americans in Iran – both the House and the Senate have shown compassion and strength, demanding these Americans return home to their families. 

I agree with the President when he exclaimed, “We should always do everything in our power to bring these Americans home safe.” Mr. President, it’s time honor the commitment you have made to these to these men, these families, and to all Americans.

I close with the words of the Prime Minister of Israel, in agreeing that, “this is a bad mistake of historic proportion.”

Thank you Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

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