U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., who voted against the Iraq War, said there was no viable alternative to the nuclear deal with Iran.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. on Friday became the fourth New Jersey Democratic member of Congress to endorse the agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program for at least a decade in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
In a statement, Pallone called the deal "the most effective means available to monitor Iran's nuclear program and peacefully prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon."
He said opponents had not offered a realistic alternative.
"The consequence of rejecting the deal would be an Iran far less restricted in its ability to develop a nuclear weapon and able to influence policy in the region at unprecedented levels, all without a realistic chance of returning to the negotiating table," he said.
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Pallone (D-6th Dist.) had been one of two New Jersey lawmakers who had yet to take a stand on the agreement, which will be debated by the U.S. House when it returns from its summer recess next week.
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th Dist.) is the last undecided congressional member from the state.
More than 34 U.S. senators, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have endorsed the agreement, ensuring the deal will go into effect. Congress will not be able to assemble two-thirds majorities in both houses to override an expected veto by President Obama of any resolution rejecting the agreement.
Pallone was one of four New Jersey lawmakers to vote against going to war against Iraq in 2002.
"As we have learned from our misguided war in Iraq, military intervention must be a last resort," he said.
Of the other three members of Congress to vote no, Rep. Donald Payne (D-10th Dist.) also supported the Iran deal; then-Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th Dist.), now chief executive of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, was one of 29 scientists and engineers signing a letter endorsing the agreement; and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) announced he would vote no.
Holt's successor, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12th Dist.), also is supporting the Iran agreement, while Reps. Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.) and Albio Sires (D-8th Dist.) and all six House Republicans from the state have announced their opposition.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.