Assembly Budget Committee Chair Gary S. Schaer (D-Bergen/Passaic) on Tuesday applauded U.S. Senator Bob Menendez for his bold and thoughtful opposition to the proposed deal regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons:

“I applaud Senator Menendez for his thoughtful and measured approach to this agreement. He has taken the time to study all of the complexities to thoroughly understand the impact this proposal will have on both our short and long term security.

“While I appreciate the Obama administration’s commitment to diplomacy, I have grave concerns about the proposed deal and its long-term impact on stability both in the region and globally, particularly its ability to protect the security of the United States, Israel and our allies.

“It is with this in mind that I appreciate, all the more, Senator Menendez’s bold stance on this issue.

“The lack of assurance that Iran will not be able to cover up any furtive activity prior to the arrival of inspectors, coupled with the financial incentives Iran stands to gain, raises additional concerns over the ability we will have to curtail Iran’s nuclear capabilities in order to sufficiently limit any threats to global peace.

“The proposal is further complicated by a historically justified distrust of Iran’s leadership. Time and time again, Iran has lied about its intentions, supported terrorism financially and otherwise, while disregarding the basic tenets of human rights and international law.

“The magnitude of these concerns warrants serious and thoughtful scrutiny by every member of Congress. With so much at stake, I hope others will follow Senator Menendez’s lead.”

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