This week the House of Representatives is expected to vote on an international nuclear agreement with Iran, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). As many of you know, this deal has ignited a passionate debate in our community and across the country; it is undoubtedly one of the most pivotal foreign policy decisions our country currently faces.
After careful consideration, I will vote to support the JCPOA because I believe it is the best way forward to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and advance the national security interests of the United States and our allies.
Like my vote against the Iraq War, this decision is one of the most important foreign policy votes I will take during my time in Congress, and I did not come to this decision lightly. Prior to announcing my support in early August, I reviewed the agreement and its classified documents, participated in classified briefings with Secretaries John Kerry, Ernest Moniz, and Jack Lew, sought the insights of experts on all sides, and listened to input from my constituents here on the Central Coast.