Congressman Moulton Offers First Amendment on House Floor

Washington, D.C. - Today, in his first remarks on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) offered an amendment that would prohibit individuals convicted of providing financial assistance to terrorist organizations, or state sponsors of terrorism, from taking advantage of certain financial, securities, and banking laws. For the video of Moulton’s remarks, click here.

“The people of Massachusetts' 6th District didn’t send me to Congress to find areas where Republicans and Democrats disagree. They sent me to Congress to get things done. Preventing those who have aided and abetted terrorists from taking advantage of our financial system should be an area of bipartisan agreement,” Moulton said after the House failed to pass his amendment. “I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find bipartisan, commonsense solutions that move our country forward.”

The full text of Moulton’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:\

This is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee.\

If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended.\

From Paris to Boston and New York to London, we have seen in recent weeks and years that the threat of terrorism in our world remains constant.\

All Americans must remain vigilant and this Congress must do everything in its power to prevent another terrorist attack.\

History shows that leveraging America’s economic strength is one of our nation’s best tools to combat the scourge of terrorism.\

We have forced rogue regimes like Iran to the negotiating table with strong economic sanctions.\

We’ve punished bad actors in Russia and North Korea by cutting off their access to global financial markets.\

And, we ought to ensure that no one convicted of aiding and abetting terrorists or state sponsors of terror can take advantage of our financial system. \

That’s what my amendment does.\

It simply makes clear that no one who has been convicted of providing assistance – either directly or indirectly – to a terrorist organization or a state sponsor of terrorism can make use of the exemptions in the underlying bill.\

The bill before us today is a complex piece of legislation that includes measures that previously passed this House with large, bipartisan support as well as other more controversial provisions.\

The American people did not send us to Congress to find areas where we disagree.\

Our constituents sent us to Congress to get things done for all Americans.\

We could have moved forward today with a legislative package that includes commonsense reforms that protect consumers and create the conditions for economic growth.\

Reasonable people can disagree on the merits of this bill.\

But, we all should be able to agree that those who support terrorists and state sponsors of terrorism should never use our financial system to their benefit.\

My amendment prevents this from happening.\

I urge a yes vote on the Motion to Recommit, and I yield back the balance of my time.\

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