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 "This deal gives up too much, too fast, to a terrorist state –
making the world less safe, less secure, and less stable," said
Representative Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, who introduced the disapproval
resolution.
A law President Barack Obama signed in May gives the Republican-led
Congress until Sept. 17 to approve or disapprove of the nuclear deal
between Iran and world powers announced on July 14.
A disapproval resolution could cripple the agreement by eliminating
Obama's ability to temporarily waive most U.S. sanctions, and Obama
has promised a veto if a resolution passes Congress.
Lawmakers could have opted to vote on a non-binding approval
resolution, or just let the deal go ahead. Although they had not
made it clear before Tuesday, House leaders had been expected to opt
for the disapproval resolution.
 The top Republican in the U.S. Senate, Mitch McConnell, said the
Senate will also likely consider a disapproval measure.
Obama's diplomatic initiative won important support on Tuesday among
his fellow Democrats, increasing chances that deal supporters would
be able to sustain Obama's promised veto.
Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, who co-authored legislation giving
Congress the right to review the deal, Barbara Boxer, a senior
member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Bill Nelson, who had
been seen as a potential swing vote, all announced their support.
"As dangerous a threat as Iran is to Israel and our allies, it would
pale in the threat posed to them and to us by a nuclear-armed Iran,"
Nelson said in a Senate speech.
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However, three Jewish House members said they were opposed,
including Steve Israel, a member of the House Democratic leadership;
Nita Lowey, ranking member on House Appropriations and Ted Deutch, a
senior member of House Foreign Affairs. Lowey and Deutch are both
Democrats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposes the
nuclear agreement, calling it a threat to the survival of the Jewish
state. Some pro-Israel groups have been lobbying against it,
increasing pressure on Jewish lawmakers and those with large Jewish
constituencies.
Congress will have less than two weeks to consider a resolution
after the August recess. The House left Washington last week. The
Senate departs Friday.
(Additional reporting by Alex Wilts, Emily Stephenson and Susan
Cornwell; Editing by Sandra Maler and James Dalgleish)
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