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Groups For And Against Iran Deal Urging Lawmakers To Vote Their Side

WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Members of Maryland's congressional delegations are taking some heat this week. Groups for and against the Iran nuclear agreement are urging lawmakers to vote their side.

Pat Warren has more on a demonstration Monday.

Members of the House and Senate go back to work Tuesday---and some Marylanders are going with them.

The Baltimore Zionist District continues its campaign to kill the Iran nuclear agreement.

"It's a threat--not only to Israel, but to the United States. Our free way of life is in jeopardy," said Laura Dickman, who opposes the Iran agreement.

There is also pressure from groups to vote in favor of the deal.

"I think if the deal falls through, what it does is it sets the world up for war with Iran," said John Barnes, who supports the Iran agreement.

"It's an alternative to a preemptive war," said Argentine Craig, who supports the Iran agreement.

Congress goes back to work Tuesday, and they'll have company.

"Some of us are going to be in Washington this week as well, continuing to lobby Congress on this issue," said Jay Bernstein, Baltimore Zionist District.

Monday, Congressman John Sarbanes announced he's a "yes" vote for the agreement. He joins Baltimore's Rep. Elijah Cummings, Prince George's Rep. Donna Edwards, Montgomery County's Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Senator Barbara Mikulski, whose "yes" vote secured the survival of the deal last week.

Voting "no" are Maryland's only Republican in Congress, Andy Harris, and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Ben Cardin, whose "no" vote was seen as a setback for the president.

Democrats Dutch Ruppersberger, Steny Hoyer and John Delaney have yet to announce their positions. The BZD hopes to sway them.

"It's not a Republican issue; it's not a Democratic issue," said Bernstein. "It's an issue of the entire American people and all of our security."

The House is expected to vote by Friday. The Senate must vote by September 17.

Five other nations--Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia--are with the United States on the agreement.

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