Today the four Iowans in the U.S. House split along party lines on several measures related to the multi-lateral agreement negotiated this summer to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

A resolution to approve the deal failed by 162 votes to 269 (roll call). Representative Dave Loebsack (IA-02) was among the 162 members (all Democrats) supporting the Iran agreement. Representatives Rod Blum (IA-01), David Young (IA-03), and Steve King (IA-04) voted no, as did all but one House Republican and 25 Democrats. Cristina Marcos reported for The Hill that “despite the defections, enough Democrats voted to support the deal to deprive the GOP of a veto-proof majority.” Keeping the no votes below a two-thirds majority was mostly a symbolic victory; President Barack Obama appears unlikely to need to exercise his veto power, now that Democrats have blocked a disapproval resolution in the U.S. Senate.

A few minutes after the first Iran-related vote today, House members approved by 247 votes to 186 a resolution “To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran.” Only two House Democrats joined Republicans to support that measure. Again, the Iowans split along party lines.

Yesterday, on a straight party-line vote of 245 to 186, House members approved a resolution “Finding that the President has not complied with section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015.” Marcos explained that the measure asserts “Obama didn’t provide Congress with all documents pertaining to the Iran deal in violation of the congressional review law passed earlier this year.” In May, Blum, Loebsack, Young, and King all supported the bill that cleared the way for this week’s Congressional votes on Iran. Bleeding Heartland compiled Iowa political reaction to the deal’s announcement in July here.

UPDATE: Added comments on the Iran deal from the Iowa Congressional delegation and the Republican Party of Iowa, which promised to make this vote a campaign issue against Loebsack in IA-02 next year.

Representative David Young press release, September 11:

U.S. HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

IN STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A controversial nuclear deal with Iran was soundly rejected today by the U.S. House of Representatives. Iowa Congressman David Young joined a bipartisan group of members to oppose H.R. 3461 – legislation that would have signaled congressional approval of the agreement. This legislation failed by a vote of 162-269.

“Bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate oppose this deal. Americans, by a 2 to 1 margin oppose this deal. I oppose this deal because it is dangerous and fatally flawed,” said Congressman Young.

“There is no transparency and no accountability on how Iran spends up to $150 billion in the release of their sanctioned assets. There are no anytime, anywhere inspections, nor is there verification on its nuclear activities. There is no effective means to reimpose sanctions – if and when Iran cheats. Members of Congress have been blocked from full disclosure of the deal because nobody is allowed access to the secret International Atomic Energy Agency’s side deals tied to this agreement. Only through an Associated Press story do we even know that the side deal reportedly would allow Iran to self-inspect the controversial Parchin military complex.

“But perhaps worst of all are the continued threats – brutal, menacing threats to our ally Israel and indeed to the United States of America. Iran supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, calls America the ‘Great Satan’ and just this week he stated that Israel will no longer exist in 25 years.

“I voted against this deal, because it would weaken the security of the world. I cannot accept a nuclear Iran. This agreement does not just fall short; it is a failure.”

In addition, the House passed H.R. 3460 – legislation that prevents the President from lifting sanctions related to the nuclear program of Iran – by a vote of 247-186.

I have not seen a written statement from Representative Steve King, but he spoke to a rally opposing the Iran agreement on September 9. Click through to watch the video. My partial transcript:

That’s how bad this is. The president has decided that he’s going to create a legacy, which to him, is a treaty agreement with Iran, regardless of what is in it. And as [Israeli Prime Minister] Bibi Netanyahu said, he said “a bad deal is worse than no deal.”

And I’ll tell you what this deal brings: it’s not just Iran with one bomb in the next two to three months with not a means to deliver it very far. It’s ten years down the road with a hundred of them, sitting on ICBMs [inter-continental ballistic missiles], missiles sticking out of the sand, all over the Middle East, along the Straits of Hormuz in particular.

This puts the survival of humanity at stake, and we have got to shut this down in this Congress. This Congress is the last stop, not only to save Israel, but to save the nuclear non-proliferation agenda for the world, and to save peace for the world, and without it, I believe tens of millions of people will die.

Republican Party of Iowa press release, September 11:

DAVENPORT – Chairman Jeff Kaufmann rallied a group of Iowa Republicans today, pledging that Iowans will remember that Congressman Dave Loebsack sided with Nancy Pelosi over his constituents when he voted to approve a dangerous nuclear deal with Iran.

The House of Representatives voted against the deal this morning, with 25 Democrats joining Republicans to defeat it 247 to 186. However, due to obstructionist Democrats blocking a vote in the Senate, the deal will likely take effect.

Republicans protested Congressman Loebsack’s vote in front of his Davenport office today and listened to short speeches from Scott County Chairwoman Judy Davidson and Chairman Kaufmann.

“Not one vote. Not one vote from Iowa should have gone to support this dangerous, flawed deal with Iran. Congressman Loebsack: You let down your constituents and the whole state of Iowa by letting Nancy Pelosi decide your vote,” Chairman Kaufmann said at the rally. “Congressman Loebsack, will [sic] will remember that you supported a deal that emboldens our enemies, frightens our friends, and leaves the entire world less safe.”

The rest of Iowa’s congressional delegation was united against the deal.

“Today marks 14 years since the attacks on September 11th, a reminder that these debates aren’t theoretical. We all will live with the consequences of this deal, good or bad,” Chairman Kaufmann said. “I want to thank the other members of our delegation — Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Joni Ernst, Congressman King, Congressman Young, and Congressman Blum — for doing their best to defeat this dangerous deal.”

Representative Rod Blum press release, September 3:

September 3, 2015 Press Release

Will Vote to Disapprove Ineffective Agreement

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Rod Blum publicly announced his opposition to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly known as the Iran agreement, negotiated by the Obama Administration and currently being considered by Congress.

Recently, Congressman Blum outlined multiple areas of serious concerns with the proposed agreement, including the lack of any involvement of the United States in the nuclear inspections, the 24 day notification process for inspections, a lack of dismantlement of current nuclear infrastructure which could permit Iran to obtain nuclear capabilities after the terms of the agreement expire, a failure to sufficiently curb Iran’s development of ballistic missile technology, the deal’s rollback of the United Nations arms embargo, no provisions requiring Iran to release the U.S. citizens being held in Iran, and the recent revelations regarding Iran’s ability to conduct “self inspections” through a secret side deal.

“After personally reading through the text of the agreement, it’s clear this deal does not make America safer,” said Congressman Blum. “I want the long lasting peace in the Middle East that has eluded us and I favor traditional diplomatic avenues over military action, but it is unacceptable that the Obama State Department did not negotiate better terms to ensure that Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. This deal sets a dangerous precedent by lifting the very sanctions that were working and brought Iran to the table in the first place, and I will be voting to reject the agreement.”

Representative Dave Loebsack press release, September 4:

Loebsack Statement on Iran Nuclear Agreement

Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached between the P5+1 nations and Iran.

“From the beginning, I have made it clear that I believe it is unacceptable for Iran to be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. And it is as important as ever that we work towards that commonly held goal. Since it was announced, I have evaluated the agreement and consulted with constituents, administration officials, and experts in the field to learn more about what implementation of this deal will look like.

“The end goal of any agreement must be to prevent a nuclear weapons capable Iran and ensure the safety of the American people. My decision regarding this multinational agreement is based on whether what is before us is the best way to achieve that goal. It has become increasingly clear in the weeks since the agreement was presented to Congress and the American people that the opponents of the agreement have yet to offer a credible and effective alternative. Without any meaningful alternative, I have decided that I will support the deal and vote in favor of it moving forward. Combined with other options that remain on the table if Iran does not comply with the agreement, this framework, which is far from perfect, is a beginning and presents the best path forward to ensuring Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.”