[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8145-H8150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1715
UNITED STATES-ISRAEL SECURITY ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 2497) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and
the Arms Export Control Act to make improvements to certain defense and
security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriations of
funds to Israel, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2497
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen United States-Israel Security Assistance
Authorization Act of 2018''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Appropriate congressional committees defined.
TITLE I--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL
Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Statement of policy regarding Israel's defense systems.
Sec. 103. Assistance for Israel.
Sec. 104. Extension of war reserves stockpile authority.
Sec. 105. Extension of loan guarantees to Israel.
Sec. 106. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel.
Sec. 107. Sense of Congress on rapid acquisition and deployment
procedures.
Sec. 108. Eligibility of Israel for the strategic trade authorization
exception to certain export control licensing
requirements.
TITLE II--ENHANCED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION
Sec. 201. United States-Israel space cooperation.
Sec. 202. United States Agency for International Development-Israel
enhanced partnership for development cooperation in
developing nations.
Sec. 203. Authority to enter into a cooperative project agreement with
Israel to counter unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten
the United States or Israel.
TITLE III--ENSURING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE
Sec. 301. Statement of policy.
SEC. 2. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
TITLE I--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In February 1987, the United States granted Israel
major non-NATO ally status.
(2) On August 16, 2007, the United States and Israel signed
a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding on United States
military assistance to Israel. The total assistance over the
course of this understanding would equal $30,000,000,000.
(3) On July 27, 2012, the United States-Israel Enhanced
Security Cooperation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-150; 22
U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) declared it to be the policy of the
United States ``to help the Government of Israel preserve its
qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional
political transformation'' and stated the sense of Congress
that the United States Government should ``provide the
Government of Israel defense articles and defense services
through such mechanisms as appropriate, to include air
refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and
specialized munitions''.
(4) On December 19, 2014, President Barack Obama signed
into law the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act
of 2014 (Public Law 113-296) which stated the sense of
Congress that Israel is a major strategic partner of the
United States and declared it to be the policy of the United
States ``to continue to provide Israel with robust security
assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome
Missile Defense System''.
(5) Section 1679 of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92; 129 Stat. 1135)
authorized funds to be appropriated for Israeli cooperative
missile defense program codevelopment and coproduction,
including funds to be provided to the Government of Israel to
procure the David's Sling weapon system as well as the Arrow
3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program.
(6) On September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel
signed a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming the
importance of continuing annual United States military
assistance to Israel and cooperative missile defense programs
in a way that enhances Israel's security and strengthens the
bilateral relationship between the two countries.
(7) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflected United
States support of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant
assistance to Israel over the ten year period beginning in
fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028. FMF grant
assistance would be at a level of $3,300,000,000 annually,
totaling $33,000,000,000, the largest single pledge of
military assistance ever and a reiteration of the seven-
decade, unshakeable, bipartisan commitment of the United
States to Israel's security.
(8) The Memorandum of Understanding also reflected United
States support for funding for cooperative programs to
develop, produce, and procure missile, rocket, and projectile
defense capabilities over a ten year period beginning in
fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028 at a level of
$500,000,000 per year, totaling $5,000,000,000.
SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING ISRAEL'S DEFENSE
SYSTEMS.
It shall be the policy of the United States to provide
assistance to the Government of Israel in order to support
funding for cooperative programs to develop, produce, and
procure missile, rocket, projectile, and other defense
capabilities to help Israel meet its security needs and to
help develop and enhance United States defense capabilities.
SEC. 103. ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL.
Section 513(c) of the Security Assistance Act of 2000
(Public Law 106-280; 114 Stat. 856) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2002 and 2003'' and
inserting ``2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026,
2027, and 2028''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``equal to--'' and inserting ``not less
than $3,300,000,000.''; and
(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B).
SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.
Section 514(b)(2)(A) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``2013,
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018'' and inserting ``2018,
2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.''.
SEC. 105. EXTENSION OF LOAN GUARANTEES TO ISRAEL.
Chapter 5 of title I of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental
Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-11; 117 Stat. 576)
is amended under the heading ``Loan Guarantees to Israel''--
(1) in the matter preceding the first proviso, by striking
``September 30, 2019'' and inserting ``September 30, 2023'';
and
(2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30,
2019'' and inserting ``September 30, 2023''.
SEC. 106. TRANSFER OF PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS TO ISRAEL.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h), the President is
authorized to transfer such quantities of precision guided
munitions from reserve stocks to Israel as necessary for
legitimate self-defense and otherwise consistent with the
purposes and conditions for such transfers under the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.).
(b) Certifications.--Except in case of emergency, not later
than 5 days before making a transfer under this section, the
President shall certify in an unclassified notification to
the appropriate congressional committees that the transfer of
the precision guided munitions--
(1) does not affect the ability of the United States to
maintain a sufficient supply of precision guided munitions;
(2) does not harm the combat readiness of the United States
or the ability of the United States to meet its commitment to
allies for the transfer of such munitions;
(3) is necessary for Israel to counter the threat of
rockets in a timely fashion; and
(4) is in the national security interest of the United
States.
SEC. 107. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON RAPID ACQUISITION AND
DEPLOYMENT PROCEDURES.
It is the sense of Congress that the President should
prescribe procedures for the rapid acquisition and deployment
of precision guided munitions for United States
counterterrorism missions, or to assist an ally of the United
States, including Israel, that is subject to direct missile
threat.
SEC. 108. ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAEL FOR THE STRATEGIC TRADE
AUTHORIZATION EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN EXPORT
CONTROL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Israel has adopted high standards in the field of
export controls.
(2) Israel has declared its unilateral adherence to the
Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and
the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
(3) Israel is a party to--
(A) the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the
Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be
Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,
signed at Geneva October 10, 1980;
(B) the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of
Asphyxiating, Poisonous or
[[Page H8146]]
Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare,
signed at Geneva June 17, 1925; and
(C) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear
Material, adopted at Vienna October 26, 1979.
(4) Section 6(b) of the United States-Israel Strategic
Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8603 note) directs the
President, consistent with the commitments of the United
States under international agreements, to take steps so that
Israel may be included in the list of countries eligible for
the strategic trade authorization exception under section
740.20(c)(1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, to the
requirement for a license for the export, reexport, or in-
country transfer of an item subject to controls under the
Export Administration Regulations.
(b) Report on Eligibility for Strategic Trade Authorization
Exception.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that describes
the steps taken pursuant to section 6(b) of the United
States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C.
8603 note).
(2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
provided in unclassified form, but may contain a classified
portion.
TITLE II--ENHANCED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION
SEC. 201. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL SPACE COOPERATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Authorized in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) supports and coordinates United States
Government research in aeronautics, human exploration and
operations, science, and space technology.
(2) Established in 1983, the Israel Space Agency (ISA)
supports the growth of Israel's space industry by supporting
academic research, technological innovation, and educational
activities.
(3) The mutual interest of the United States and Israel in
space exploration affords both nations an opportunity to
leverage their unique abilities to advance scientific
discovery.
(4) In 1996, NASA and the ISA entered into an agreement
outlining areas of mutual cooperation, which remained in
force until 2005.
(5) Since 1996, NASA and the ISA have successfully
cooperated on many space programs supporting the Global
Positioning System and research related to the sun, earth
science, and the environment.
(6) The bond between NASA and the ISA was permanently
forged on February 1, 2003, with the loss of the crew of STS-
107, including Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon.
(7) On October 13, 2015, the United States and Israel
signed the Framework Agreement between the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of
America and the Israel Space Agency for Cooperation in
Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer
Space for Peaceful Purposes.
(b) Continuing Cooperation.--The Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall continue
to work with the Israel Space Agency to identify and
cooperatively pursue peaceful space exploration and science
initiatives in areas of mutual interest, taking all
appropriate measures to protect sensitive information,
intellectual property, trade secrets, and economic interests
of the United States.
SEC. 202. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT-
ISRAEL ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT
COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It should be the policy of the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to
partner with Israel in order to advance common goals across a
wide variety of sectors, including energy, agriculture and
food security, democracy, human rights and governance,
economic growth and trade, education, environment, global
health, and water and sanitation.
(b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development is
authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with
Israel in order to enhance coordination on advancing common
goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy,
human rights and governance, economic growth and trade,
education, environment, global health, and water and
sanitation with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and
cooperation with nations throughout the world.
SEC. 203. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE PROJECT
AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL TO COUNTER UNMANNED
AERIAL VEHICLES THAT THREATEN THE UNITED STATES
OR ISRAEL.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On February 10, 2018, Iran launched from Syria an
unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly known as a ``drone'') that
penetrated Israeli airspace.
(2) According to a press report, the unmanned aerial
vehicle was in Israeli airspace for a minute and a half
before being shot down by its air force.
(3) Senior Israeli officials stated that the unmanned
aerial vehicle was an advanced piece of technology.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress
that--
(1) joint research and development to counter unmanned
aerial vehicles will serve the national security interests of
the United States and Israel;
(2) Israel faces urgent and emerging threats from unmanned
aerial vehicles, and other unmanned vehicles, launched from
Lebanon by Hezbollah, from Syria by Iran's Revolutionary
Guard Corps, or from others seeking to attack Israel;
(3) efforts to counter unmanned aerial vehicles should
include the feasibility of utilizing directed energy and high
powered microwave technologies, which can disable vehicles
without kinetic destruction; and
(4) the United States and Israel should continue to work
together to defend against all threats to the safety,
security, and national interests of both countries.
(c) Authority To Enter Into Agreement.--
(1) In general.--The President is authorized to enter into
a cooperative project agreement with Israel under the
authority of section 27 of the Arms Export Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2767), to carry out research on, and development,
testing, evaluation, and joint production (including follow-
on support) of, defense articles and defense services, such
as the use of directed energy or high powered microwave
technology, to detect, track, and destroy unmanned aerial
vehicles that threaten the United States or Israel.
(2) Applicable requirements.--The cooperative project
agreement described in paragraph (1) shall--
(A) provide that any activities carried out pursuant to the
agreement are subject to--
(i) the applicable requirements described in subparagraphs
(A), (B), and (C) of section 27(b)(2) of the Arms Export
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2767(b)(2)); and
(ii) any other applicable requirements of the Arms Export
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) with respect to the use,
transfers, and security of such defense articles and defense
services under that Act;
(B) establish a framework to negotiate the rights to
intellectual property developed under the agreement; and
(C) include appropriate protections for sensitive
technology.
(d) Report on Cooperation.--
(1) Report required.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees (as that term
is defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States
Code), the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report describing the cooperation of the
United States with Israel with respect to countering unmanned
aerial systems that includes each of the following:
(A) An identification of specific capability gaps of the
United States and Israel with respect to countering unmanned
aerial systems.
(B) An identification of cooperative projects that would
address those capability gaps and mutually benefit and
strengthen the security of the United States and Israel.
(C) An assessment of the projected cost for research and
development efforts for such cooperative projects, including
an identification of those to be conducted in the United
States, and the timeline for the completion of each such
project.
(D) An assessment of the extent to which the capability
gaps of the United States identified pursuant to subparagraph
(A) are not likely to be addressed through the cooperative
projects identified pursuant to subparagraph (B).
(E) An assessment of the projected costs for procurement
and fielding of any capabilities developed jointly pursuant
to an agreement described in subsection (c).
(2) Limitation.--No activities may be conducted pursuant to
an agreement described in subsection (c) until the date that
is 15 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense
submits the report required under paragraph (1).
TITLE III--ENSURING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE
SEC. 301. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to ensure that Israel
maintains its ability to counter and defeat any credible
conventional military, or emerging, threat from any
individual state or possible coalition of states or from non-
state actors, while sustaining minimal damages and
casualties, through the use of superior military means,
possessed in sufficient quantity, including weapons, command,
control, communication, intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance capabilities that in their technical
characteristics are superior in capability to those of such
other individual or possible coalition states or non-state
actors.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days
[[Page H8147]]
in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous
material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Israel faces growing threats, but
particularly from Iran and its terrorist proxies such as Hezbollah.
This year, for the first time, we have seen direct military
engagement between Iran and Israel. It is not just attacks coming over
the border from Lebanon with Hezbollah, but direct military attacks.
Iran launched a drone and fired rockets toward Israel. They did both
from the perch that they have now in Syria. Those Iranian militia and
troops are in Syria. Meanwhile, Iran's terrorist proxy, Hezbollah,
continues to amass rockets and missiles. They have well over 100,000 in
their inventory now. This bill will ensure that the United States
continues to have Israel's back in the face of these growing threats.
With this measure, we are codifying the assistance levels in the
latest 10-year U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding. What that aims
to do is strengthen our already robust relationship, especially on
defense matters. The bill also works to build on the United States' and
Israel's successful history of cooperation on technology development.
Think of the Iron Dome missile defense system, which shot down some of
those Iranian rockets. Mr. Engel and I have seen those Iron Dome
systems at work, deployed in Israel.
More recently, the U.S. and Israel have begun collaborating on anti-
tunnel technology. Why?
Well, Eliot and I can tell you that we had the opportunity--and this
was a sad story--to go into one of those tunnels. We did not know where
that tunnel ended up when we started. The other end of that tunnel was
an elementary school in Israel. Obviously, the intent of the terrorists
was to use that tunnel in order to go in and kidnap children and then
force the IDF to fight block by block by block. Hamas dug those
tunnels. Hezbollah digs tunnels, as well. This anti-tunnel technology
will help the IDF find and destroy those tunnels that are used for
smuggling and launching attacks on Israel.
This measure supports continued cooperation on space science and
exploration, in line with the NASA Administrator's recent trip to
Israel to discuss expanding U.S.-Israel space cooperation.
This bill also authorizes the United States and Israel to collaborate
on humanitarian assistance projects around the world. It authorizes the
President to transfer precision-guided munitions to Israel.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen). She is chairman emeritus of the full committee and the
current chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. I
thank her for her work on this bill. I also thank the gentleman from
Florida, Ted Deutch, the ranking member of the Middle East and North
Africa Subcommittee. Together, these two members authored the House
companion to this Senate bill, which passed our committee unanimously,
the latest in a long list of successful collaborations between our
committee members.
In honor of her tremendous legacy as an advocate for Israel, we are
naming this legislation the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-Israel
Security Assistance Act of 2018.
In her almost three decades in the House, Chairman Ros-Lehtinen has
made steadfast support for Israel a hallmark of her congressional
career. She was the first woman to chair the Committee on Foreign
Affairs and the first Hispanic women to serve in Congress. The U.S.-
Israel relationship is stronger for the work that she has done in
Congress. She will be greatly missed.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC, September 10, 2018.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning S. 2497, the
``United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act
of 2018,'' which was referred to your Committee on August 3,
2018.
S. 2497 contains provisions within the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a
result of your having consulted with the Committee and in
order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego
action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our
mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or
alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees,
or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject
matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.
I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming
this understanding, and request that you include a copy of
this letter and your response in the Congressional Record
during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in
advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, September 10, 2018.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for consulting with the
Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from
further consideration of S. 2497, United States-Israel
Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, so that the
bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of
your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this resolution or similar legislation in the future. I
would support your effort to seek appointment of an
appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any
House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on S. 2497 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and
look forward to continuing to work together as this measure
moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, September 10, 2018.
Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
Chairman, House Armed Services Committee,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thornberry: Thank you for consulting with the
Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from
further consideration of S. 2497, United States-Israel
Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, so that the
bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of
your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this resolution or similar legislation in the future. I
would support your effort to seek appointment of an
appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any
House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on S. 2497 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and
look forward to continuing to work together as this measure
moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. We are taking up a
bill from the Senate that I fully support, with a couple of small
amendments.
One of these amendments is to rename the legislation after a Member
of this House. I find myself experiencing a little bit of denial,
because it reminds me that one of our most able and valued colleagues
is about to wrap up her distinguished career. I can't imagine what it
is going to be like without Ileana Ros-Lehtinen around here. She came
to Congress the year after I did, and we have been close friends ever
since.
The gentlewoman from Florida has been a dear friend and an
exceptional colleague, and there has been no fiercer champion of the
U.S.-Israel relationship than Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. So it is entirely
fitting that we amend this bill to name it in her honor, the Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act.
Let me also thank the chief Democratic sponsor of this legislation,
Mr.
[[Page H8148]]
Deutch, also of Florida, who has worked tirelessly to shape this
legislation and to reaffirm the unshakable bond between the United
States and Israel.
This bill, like the House version passed by the Foreign Affairs
Committee, fully authorizes the historic memorandum of understanding,
or MOU, between the United States and Israel, which President Obama
signed and which will go into effect next year.
This MOU provides for a 10-year agreement at $3.3 billion per year
and a $500 million missile defense pledge, the largest single pledge of
military assistance in our country's history. The MOU is a concrete
example of something I often say; while prime ministers may come and
go, Presidents come and go, members of Knesset come and go, and Members
of Congress come and go, the U.S.-Israel relationship is here to stay.
Our relationship with Israel benefits both our countries. For both of
us, it strengthens security and stability, and advances our shared
values. This is the bedrock of our friendship. This bill moves us
forward in new areas of cooperation.
For example, Mr. Kilmer of Washington wrote a provision that will
spur closer cooperation on space issues. Mr. Crist of Florida wrote a
section dealing with unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten the United
States or Israel. Mr. Schneider's work will help ensure Israel's
qualitative military edge. Mr. Boyle included a measure that will
increase Israel's access to precision-guided munitions.
I would like to point out a couple of issues, which I hope we can
address through additional legislation. This bill was originally
intended to include Mr. Langevin's legislation to enhance U.S.-Israel
cooperation on cybersecurity. This is an area where we should be
working together. So I was disappointed that it was struck from this,
and I hope that it soon crosses the finish line as a standalone bill.
Additionally, Mr. Boyle's bill to allow Israel to purchase precision-
guided weapons was included in the Senate bill. The Armed Services
Committee majority objected. So this version waters down the
authorization for these purchases to a sense of Congress, which is
considerably weaker.
While I wish Armed Services Republicans would reconsider their
objection, I won't stand in the way of moving this critical bill
forward at this time. I am told that their concern is jurisdictional,
and I hope they will remain sensitive to this issue the next time a
defense authorization comes to the floor loaded down with provisions
that fall in the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Let me finish by saying that this bill is very timely. The threats
facing the United States and Israel are becoming more urgent and more
complex. ISIS is growing in the Sinai; Israel's neighbors are
shouldering new burdens from refugees, causing further instability; and
Iran's behavior in the region has, unfortunately become even more
dangerous. The United States has been there by Israel's side throughout
this dangerous time. And that is the way it should be.
Today, we put that into law. I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation, and I congratulate my good friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the chairman emeritus of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of H.R. 5141, the House
predecessor of the legislation we have before us.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his kind
words and the words of my good friend, Ranking Member Engel. This is
truly an unexpected, humbling honor. I thank both of their teams for
their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor, and I thank all
Members and supporters of Israel. There are so many of us in this
Chamber. We have been through a lot together and the U.S.-Israel
relationship is stronger because every single one of us works hard at
it.
Mr. Speaker, a special thank you to my dear friend and Florida
colleague, Ted Deutch, the great ranking member of our subcommittee,
with whom I have had the honor of working so closely on these issues
over the past 6 years. He is the author of this newly named bill and
the one with that idea.
As so many know, Mr. Speaker, it has been an absolute joy for me to
have been a part of this distinguished body for almost 30 years, as the
chairman points out, to advocate for my constituents and to serve on
our esteemed House Committee on Foreign Affairs to promote American
ideals like freedom, democracy, and human rights, and to help
strengthen the bonds we have with allies around the world.
No relationship, Mr. Speaker, is more important than the one that we
have with the democratic Jewish State of Israel. Israel is an
indispensable, strategic partner, not just for its protection of U.S.
interests, but because of our shared beliefs and our shared values.
I have had the incredible honor and privilege to travel to Israel,
both with the chairman, the ranking member, and Mr. Deutch. We have
seen firsthand that these shared values and these shared beliefs are
seen every day in Israel, after centuries of suffering, and it has
allowed the Jewish people to beat all the odds and to develop a country
that has become a thriving global leader.
It only gets more impressive when you consider the neighborhood where
Israel is--one that has never been more dangerous and more threatening
to them than it is today. The threats just keep getting tougher for
Israel.
For all of these reasons, I am so proud to have authored, along with
the ranking member, Mr. Deutch, this bill, because we have worked
together on this and we advocated for the bill before us today.
The bill authorizes, as has been explained, additional security
assistance for Israel at a minimum of $3.3 billion, the level agreed to
in the memorandum of understanding, for the next 10 years.
With this bill, Mr. Speaker, we both have the comfort of knowing that
our support for Israel will be ironclad, but it also provides us with
the flexibility to modify that support should the threats to Israel
increase. If additional support is needed, it would be given.
From drones and emerging threats to cybersecurity to space to
development cooperation in other countries, this bill also includes a
host of other provisions to expand our collaboration in other areas.
Collaboration is an important word because, as the chair and ranking
member have pointed out, this bill has been a positive, collaborative
effort by many Members in a bipartisan manner.
The U.S.-Israel partnership has never been stronger than it is today.
It is my sincere honor to have played a very small part in that. I
encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, in spite of its
name.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Deutch), the lead Democratic author on the House version
of the bill. He is also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
and the ranking member of the Middle East Subcommittee.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise in support of
the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization
Act of 2018.
{time} 1730
I am proud to have worked on this critical security bill with my
colleague and friend, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
The U.S.-Israel relationship has been and must continue to be a
bipartisan priority regardless of the party in power at either end of
Pennsylvania Avenue. With today's vote, we have the chance to reinforce
that point.
The threats against Israel remain numerous and complex. Iran is
seeking to secure a permanent foothold in neighboring Syria. Hezbollah
continues to stockpile an estimated 150,000 missiles near Israel's
border, and a humanitarian crisis looms in Gaza, threatening stability
in Israel.
Israel must be prepared to defend itself from threats coming from
every direction, from everything from the most rudimentary of weapons--
as we have seen with the ``arson kites'' from Hamas, the ``terror
kites''--to advanced Iranian-made missiles.
The 2016 memorandum of understanding between our countries committed
unprecedented levels of security. That assistance is $38 billion over
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10 years, and this bill will enshrine that figure into law. Notably,
nearly all of this American taxpayer money will come back to the United
States and support American jobs.
This bill will codify this memorandum and ensure that Israel has the
capability to defend itself from any and all threats. That means
strengthening Israel's qualitative military edge, authorizing
cooperation on UAV technology, and expanding cooperation in new areas,
such as space, and through a new effort to work together to provide
humanitarian assistance around the globe.
When we consider legislation like this, we must remember that threats
against Israel are also a threat to our security interests in the
region. Enhancing Israel's security is a step towards strengthening our
own national security, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill
and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Finally, I would like to thank Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for her
service to our Nation and particularly for her ardent and unwavering
support for our ally, Israel, throughout her nearly three decades in
Congress. Her long and decorated career in this Chamber, as historic as
it was effective, will live on through her incredible achievements in
our Nation's robust foreign policy.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has been the leading voice on a foreign
policy that stands up to rogue regimes wherever they are and always,
always values human rights. Without a doubt, her contributions to
strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship will take their place in
this body's history. There has been no greater champion than Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Florida an
additional 1 minute.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman's contributions to the
strengthening of the U.S.-Israel relationship will take their place in
this body's history because there has been no greater champion than
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. It has been an honor to work with her on this most
recent effort to broaden and enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship, so
it is only fitting that this piece of legislation should bear her name.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend and colleague. This bill is but a
small part of the legacy that she leaves behind in this great Chamber.
It has been an honor and a privilege to work with her. It has been an
honor and a privilege to work with the chairman, Mr. Royce. I am
grateful for their leadership, as I am for Mr. Engel and the great job
he does as ranking member.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and
International Organizations.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce,
Ranking Member Engel, and Mr. Deutch for all of their very excellent
comments towards our good friend and colleague Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a
chairwoman in earnest who has been one of the greatest friends Israel
has ever known in this Chamber.
The gentlewoman has been tenacious in her fight against terrorism,
particularly as it relates to Iran, and against very considerable odds
has been able to promote legislation that has made a huge difference in
protecting the people of Israel from the ever-present threats, the
existential threats that they face in the region. I thank Ms. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen. It is so fitting that this bill is named after her.
This bill authorizes, as we all know, enhanced military cooperation
between our countries; it further enshrines Israel's qualitative
military edge; it authorizes foreign military financing at an annual
level of no less than $3.3 billion, agreed to in the bilateral MOU
negotiated under the Obama administration, but, crucially, the bill
specifies that the assistance should be not less than $3.3 billion. It
is a statement that it is a floor and not a ceiling, so, over the next
10 years, at least that much and hopefully more because we know the
needs are overwhelming.
The bill's other provisions: it facilitates the transfer of advanced,
precision-guided missiles for Israel's use and lays the groundwork for
bilateral cooperation that will assist Israel in confronting an
evolving landscape of threats, including from unmanned UAVs.
The many facets of cooperation supported by this bill, from
international development to space exploration, are not just for
Israel's benefit. They also contribute to our national security. The
U.S. is safer when Israel is stronger. This bill translates that
fundamental principle into practical initiatives for fruitful
collaboration and mutual benefit.
It is fitting, again, that this act will be named after a great
American and a great friend of Israel, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Frankel), a very valued member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee and a cosponsor of this bill.
Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to work with Mr.
Engel, Mr. Royce, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. And Mr. Poe, it has been a great
pleasure and honor to work with you in a bipartisan manner on our
Foreign Affairs Committee.
I am very proudly standing here, of course, in support of this United
States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, which recognizes
Israel's right to defend itself and writes into law the continued
cooperation between our two countries.
Defending Israel is in our national security interest, as is ensuring
our great friend and ally is safe. It is more important than ever, as
mentioned by my colleagues here today.
When you look at the region, there is reason to be worried: Hamas in
Gaza, rebuilding its rocket arsenal and calling for Israel's
destruction; Iran now threatening to dramatically increase its
enrichment of uranium while constructing military bases in Syria; ISIS
wreaking havoc in Sinai; and Hezbollah pointing 150,000 missiles at
Israel.
So we must continue strengthening Israel's defenses, and this
important bill codifies the memorandum of understanding with Israel
signed by the Obama administration, the largest U.S. military
assistance package ever.
The measure also expands U.S.-Israel cooperation in areas of mutual
interest, including authorizing USAID to partner with Israel to aid
low-income countries; by leveraging Israeli innovations in the water,
food, security, energy, and global health sectors.
In an increasingly polarized Washington, Israel can never be a
partisan issue. That is why I am so glad this is not a partisan issue.
I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time to close.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield for such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).
(Mr. HASTINGS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding to
me in support of this measure that I think is most deserving for my
dear friend from Florida.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Let me again applaud the chief sponsors of this legislation,
Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch, along with their Senate
counterparts, for their tremendous work.
Let me also, again, as I have many times, thank our chairman. We have
worked very closely together on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and this
is proof of that kind of collaboration where we have both sides of the
aisle doing things that are good for the United States of America.
This legislation and the MOU that it puts into law represents the
unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel and the shared
interests and values that have been the hallmark of this relationship.
As Chairman Royce mentioned before, he and I have been there together
many times. We have seen those terror tunnels. We have seen all kinds
of things. The people of Israel need the United States, and we need the
people of Israel.
The United States has stood up for democracy through all these
glorious years of our being a republic, and we
[[Page H8150]]
cannot stop now. That is why legislation such as this bipartisan
legislation is so important for us to pass.
This, in law, represents the unbreakable bond between the United
States and Israel and the shared interests and values that have been
the hallmark of this relationship.
The Middle East is a very dangerous neighborhood. We here in the
United States have the benefit of stepping back a bit, but we are not
on the front line day in and day out the way the beleaguered people of
Israel are with one country after another vowing to try to destroy it.
This Congress, in a bipartisan fashion, stands together and says that
the United States stands with the people of Israel, and that makes me
very proud of this Congress, proud of our Foreign Affairs Committee,
proud of our chairman, and proud of all the people who have spoken,
particularly Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who deserves all the accolades you
can think of. Whatever I said wouldn't be dramatic enough to explain
the force that she has been for the past 30 years on the Foreign
Affairs Committee doing good things, particularly with the State of
Israel.
It is going to be difficult to not see her here, but I know she will
be doing everything that she can continue to do to enhance the U.S.-
Israel relationship.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
The democratic Jewish State of Israel is a friend and a major
strategic partner of the United States. Israel is a beacon, as Ileana
shared with us, of freedom, of democracy, of stability in the otherwise
troubled Middle East. In short, it is the very opposite of the brutal
and corrupt Iranian regime.
Iran has never made its threats to Israel a secret, and that is what
they mean when the Ayatollah says: ``Death to Israel; death to
America.''
After years of moving the pieces into place, including by showering
its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, with money and with rockets and with
missiles and attempting to exploit the conflict in Syria to build a
military presence and support base there on the border, it is slowly
but surely preparing to make good on this threat. With this bill, we
can ensure that Israel has the tools to defend it self and defend our
shared interests in the face of that mounting threat.
I do thank our ranking member, Eliot Engel, and I do thank Ted Deutch
for all of the bipartisan cooperation that has allowed us to move so
many measures through the committee, through the Senate, and into law.
I also want, in closing, to thank and to note that I was the
beneficiary of the good work of my predecessor in this position, Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, when I took over the committee 6 years ago, and for that
I am also very thankful.
I am thankful for the contributions that all of these individuals
have made to the betterment of our defense, the security of the United
States, the security of our allies. I am proud of the fact that we have
done it in a bipartisan way.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of
the House amendment to S. 2497, the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-
Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018.
This bill would enshrine in law the 2016 U.S. Memorandum of
Understanding that the Obama Administration reached with Israel.
This landmark agreement provides for historic levels of security
cooperation with and assistance to Israel. Enacting this legislation
would send an unmistakable message to Israel's enemies that the
American commitment to Israel's security is ironclad.
Israel continually faces threats from all sides, and we have the
responsibility to be sure that Israelis have everything they need in
order to defend her citizens.
Whether it's missiles, tunnels, arson kites, or potential border
breaches from Hamas in Gaza, rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon, drones
from Iranian forces in Syria, or whatever other lethal attempt may be
devised, Israel must be ready to combat whatever comes her way.
Mr. Speaker, Israel's security is nonnegotiable. With enemies
committed to the country's destruction throughout the entirety of its
70-year existence, Israel's qualitative military edge is absolutely
necessary, and I am pleased that this bill ensures that this edge will
be maintained.
Even amidst persistent security threats, Israel has been a remarkable
leader in technological and humanitarian endeavors. This legislation,
by enhancing U.S.-Israeli cooperation in space exploration and
international development, will strengthen both of our countries and
many other parts of the world.
Mr. Speaker, as we work on a bipartisan basis to ensure that the
U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong far into the future, I can
think of no more fitting namesake for this bill than my friend and
colleague, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Israel has a true friend and supporter in Ileana, and as she departs
at the end of this Congress, we will all be well served to follow her
example of working across the aisle to ensure that American support for
Israel remains unbreakable.
To that end, I proudly urge the passage of the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018.
Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the House Amendment to
S. 2497, the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Israel Security Assistance
Authorization Act. As Israel faces growing threats from Iran,
Hezbollah, and Hamas, this bill reaffirms the United States' strong
belief that Israel has the right to defend herself and ensures that
Israel has the means to do so. Passage of this bill will send a
powerful message to Israel's adversaries: the United States will
continue to stand with Israel. I will note that this bill is
appropriately named for my good friend, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, who as we all know is departing at the end of this Congress.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has been a strong supporter of Israel, a
champion of democracy across the world, and one of this chamber's true
believers in the ideal of bipartisan foreign policy. So I thank
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for her leadership, and I urge all my
colleagues to support this important measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 2497, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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