Legislation that would expand and tighten sanctions against Iran is one of several measures to be considered Thursday by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The measure (HR 957) would further amend existing law (PL 104-172) by extending sanctions to foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies that do business with Iran. The underlying law sought to curtail investments that would enhance Iran's petroleum resources.

The new legislation also would "tighten loopholes" in the sanctions law by refining the definition of petroleum products and by including financial institutions, insurers, underwriters and others as organizations that could be sanctioned, according to committee spokeswoman Lynn Weil.

"The Iran Sanctions Act is not being fully enforced," Jane Harman, D-Calif., said Wednesday in a keynote speech at the New America Foundation. "The U.S. should refuse to do business with subsidiaries that still do business with Iran..."

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