The House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly passed legislation that allows Congress to review and possibly reject a deal on Iran's nuclear program negotiated by the P5+1 world powers.
The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (HR 1191) passed with a largely bipartisan vote of 400 to 25, and was sent to President Obama to be signed into law. Six House Democrats and 19 Republicans opposed the bill, which passed the Senate last week in a 98-1 vote.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said again Thursday that Obama will sign the measure into law, according to The Associated Press.
Negotiators from the P5+1 countries -- the U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China and Germany -- hope to reach a final deal with Iran by the end of June, in which Tehran is expected to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Congress would then have 30 days to approve or disapprove the agreement before sanctions are lifted.
If the Senate or House votes to reject the final deal, a veto would likely follow from President Obama. Congress would then have to get two-thirds of each chamber to override the veto. If successful in overriding Obama's hypothetical veto, his administration would not be allowed to waive some of the sanctions laid out in the accord, reported The Hill.
According to the AP, though, Obama could still use executive actions to unilaterally provide significant sanctions relief.
The White House initially resisted efforts by lawmakers to give Congress a chance to review the deal, but once the administration realized that Democrats and Republicans agreed on the role Congress should have, the White House conceded, saying it would support a compromise.
Republican leaders fast-tracked the bill to the floor, a move which prohibits amendments and requires two-thirds majority for it to pass.
The lack of amendments to the bill angered Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., who said, "It is unconscionable for Congress to grant such sweeping power to President Obama, allowing him to lift sanctions on Iran, no matter the cost to our national security, the security of Israel, and the entire world."
"But even worse, the House is willing to do this today without having even one hearing, one amendment, a grand total of 40 minutes of debate," Pompeo said, according to The Hill.
Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., said on the floor that he fears the deal won't be enough to rein in Iran's nuclear program. "I fear that the agreement that is coming will be too short, sanctions relief will be too rapid, inspectors will be too restricted, and Iran's missile program will be plain ignored," he said, according to CNN.
Others, like Rep. Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Relations Committee, had a slightly more positive outlook, saying he thinks the measure gives Congress more leverage in the process. "I agree with Secretary Kerry when he says that no deal is better than a bad deal. The question is, we want to make sure a bad deal isn't sold as a good deal. And that's why it's important for Congress to be engaged," Engel said.
He continued: "The best way to avoid another war in the Middle East is a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis. I wish our negotiators success. And I hope this legislation sends a clear message that Congress is taking its role seriously, that we aren't playing politics with this issue and that we want these negotiations to result in a strong, verifiable deal that keeps a nuclear bomb out of Iran's hands."
