Today, Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), and 25 other members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, urging this Administration to demonstrate its commitment to the strongest sanctions on our adversaries by appointing the Coordinator for Sanctions Policy. The letter comes in response to reports that the State Department is eliminating the office of the Coordinator in the Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions department, which oversees international sanctions policy and plays a critical role in a comprehensive and coordinated sanctions strategy. The 27 bipartisan cosigners are committed to maintaining this position and imposing tough, multilateral sanctions on Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela to crack down on terrorism, nuclear weapons programs, ballistic missiles and other threats to democracy.
“We need stronger sanctions to increase pressure on Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of terror; Russia, which seeks to undermine western democracies; and North Korea, a reckless, existential threat to the United States. That’s why it’s irrational for the State Department to eliminate the Coordinator for Sanctions Policy. We urge the Administration to reverse course and commit to crippling sanctions on our adversaries,” said Rep. Gottheimer.
“Right now, we face threats from countries ranging from Iran, to North Korea, to Russia, and it’s imperative that our nation maintains its leverage over these dangerous actors,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “The Coordinator for Sanctions Policy has played a critical role in implementing sanctions on bad actors in the international community, and it is important this office remain intact to continue enforcing tough international sanctions to protect our national security,” said Rep. Stefanik.
The Coordinator for Sanctions Policy office has been led by a veteran ambassador-ranked diplomat with a staff of five. This role is critical for implementing, enforcing, and strengthening sanctions on hostile regimes across the world.
To view a copy of the letter click here.