Sanford Cosponsors No Ransom Payment Act

SANFORD COSPONSORS NO RANSOM PAYMENTS ACT
Joins Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, Rep. Peter Roskam, and others

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representative Mark Sanford signed onto legislation as an original co-sponsor of the No Ransom Payments Act, H.R. 5940, introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS). The bill reiterates the United States’ policy not to pay ransoms, requires the president to secure the return of U.S. money from Iran, and bans any future payments to state sponsors of terrorism. Rep. Sanford released the following statement:

“As we continue to learn more about the $1.7 billion transferred to Iran by the Obama administration, people’s frustrations with Washington grow by the minute.

“This is the same regime that has harassed our naval vessels, detained our sailors, and continues to jail our citizens. There is a long-standing American policy not to reward terrorists or kidnappers with payments, and a change in this policy sets a dangerous precedent.

“By Washington standards, $1.7 billion may pale in comparison to larger spending items, but I imagine this is not how taxpayers in Goose Creek and Beaufort thought their tax dollars would be spent. Nor should it be. Accordingly, I signed on as a cosponsor of the No Ransom Payments Act, so this money is returned and future ransom payments never occur.”

The No Ransom Payments Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 6, 2016, where it was referred to the House Committee on Intelligence. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a similar bill, S. 3285, in the Senate on the same day, which was then referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.