' The Iran, North Korea, & Syria Sanctions Consolidation Act of 2011'

"A group of bipartisan senior senators is set to introduce the Senate's version of new, wide-ranging sanctions legislation targeting the regimes of Iran, Syria, and North Korea. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today at the AIPAC policy conference in Washington that the new bill would be unveiled later on Monday and would integrate a host of ideas in the Senate about how to increase pressure on Iran. He explained to the assembled group of pro-Israel lobbyists and supporters that the legislation was meant to both tighten enforcement of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act (CISADA), and bring new pressure on the Iranian government's banking, energy, and military sectors. "This bill seeks to tighten our current sanctions by requiring the Obama administration to respond to sanctionable activity," Kirk said.

The main leaders on the Senate bill are Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ). Other main figures to watch on this bill include Kirk, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Bob Casey (D-PA).  A primary focus of the bill, which will be called the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Sanctions Consolidation Act of 2011, will be to increasing pressure on companies based in other countries that are still doing business with Iran's energy sector, especially China. ..."