[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2165 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.2165
One Hundred Twelfth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twelve
An Act
To enhance strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Israel Enhanced
Security Cooperation Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Since 1948, United States Presidents and both houses of
Congress, on a bipartisan basis and supported by the American
people, have repeatedly reaffirmed the special bond between the
United States and Israel, based on shared values and shared
interests.
(2) The Middle East is undergoing rapid change, bringing with
it hope for an expansion of democracy but also great challenges to
the national security of the United States and our allies in the
region, particularly to our most important ally in the region,
Israel.
(3) The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is
continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking to foment
instability and promote extremism in the Middle East, particularly
in this time of dramatic political transition.
(4) At the same time, the Government of the Islamic Republic of
Iran continues to enrich uranium in defiance of multiple United
Nations Security Council resolutions.
(5) A nuclear-weapons capable Iran would fundamentally threaten
vital United States interests, encourage regional nuclear
proliferation, further empower Iran, the world's leading state
sponsor of terror, and pose a serious and destabilizing threat to
Israel and the region.
(6) Over the past several years, with the assistance of the
Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria, Hizbollah
and Hamas have increased their stockpile of rockets, with more than
60,000 now ready to be fired at Israel. The Government of the
Islamic Republic of Iran continues to add to its arsenal of
ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, which threaten Iran's
neighbors, Israel, and United States Armed Forces in the region.
(7) As a result, Israel is facing a fundamentally altered
strategic environment.
(8) Pursuant to chapter 5 of title 1 of the Emergency Wartime
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-11; 117 Stat.
576), the authority to make available loan guarantees to Israel is
currently set to expire on September 30, 2012.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States:
(1) To reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the security of
the State of Israel as a Jewish state. As President Barack Obama
stated on December 16, 2011, ``America's commitment and my
commitment to Israel and Israel's security is unshakeable.'' And as
President George W. Bush stated before the Israeli Knesset on May
15, 2008, on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of
Israel, ``The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet
the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty.''.
(2) To help the Government of Israel preserve its qualitative
military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional political
transformation.
(3) To veto any one-sided anti-Israel resolutions at the United
Nations Security Council.
(4) To support Israel's inherent right to self-defense.
(5) To pursue avenues to expand cooperation with the Government
of Israel both in defense and across the spectrum of civilian
sectors, including high technology, agriculture, medicine, health,
pharmaceuticals, and energy.
(6) To assist the Government of Israel with its ongoing efforts
to forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict that results in two states living side-by-side
in peace and security, and to encourage Israel's neighbors to
recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.
(7) To encourage further development of advanced technology
programs between the United States and Israel given current trends
and instability in the region.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AND
PROTECT UNITED STATES INTERESTS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government
should take the following actions to assist in the defense of Israel:
(1) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the Governments of the
United States and Israel to address emerging common threats,
increase security cooperation, and expand joint military exercises.
(2) Provide the Government of Israel such support as may be
necessary to increase development and production of joint missile
defense systems, particularly such systems that defend against the
urgent threat posed to Israel and United States forces in the
region.
(3) Provide the Government of Israel assistance specifically
for the production and procurement of the Iron Dome defense system
for purposes of intercepting short-range missiles, rockets, and
projectiles launched against Israel.
(4) 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.
(5) Provide the Government of Israel additional excess defense
articles, as appropriate, in the wake of the withdrawal of United
States forces from Iraq.
(6) Examine ways to strengthen existing and ongoing efforts,
including the Gaza Counter Arms Smuggling Initiative, aimed at
preventing weapons smuggling into Gaza pursuant to the 2009
agreement following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as
measures to protect against weapons smuggling and terrorist threats
from the Sinai Peninsula.
(7) Offer the Air Force of Israel additional training and
exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for
Israel's limited air space.
(8) Work to encourage an expanded role for Israel with the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an enhanced
presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
(9) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, including
satellite intelligence, with Israel.
SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL STEPS TO DEFEND ISRAEL AND PROTECT AMERICAN
INTERESTS.
(a) Extension of War Reserves Stockpile Authority.--
(1) Department of defense appropriations act, 2005.--Section
12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005
(Public Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended by striking ``more
than 8 years after'' and inserting ``more than 10 years after''.
(2) Foreign assistance act of 1961.--Section 514(b)(2)(A) of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)(A)) is
amended by striking ``fiscal years 2011 and 2012'' and inserting
``fiscal years 2013 and 2014''.
(b) 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, 2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; and
(2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30, 2011''
and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.
SEC. 6. REPORTS REQUIRED.
(a) Report on Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME).--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the status of
Israel's qualitative military edge in light of current trends and
instability in the region.
(2) Substitution for quadrennial report.--If submitted within
one year of the date that the first quadrennial report required by
section 201(c)(2) of the Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2008 (Public
Law 110-429; 22 U.S.C. 2776 note) is due to be submitted, the
report required by paragraph (1) may substitute for such
quadrennial report.
(b) Reports on Other Matters.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on each of the following
matters:
(1) Taking into account the Government of Israel's urgent
requirement for F-35 aircraft, actions to improve the process
relating to its purchase of F-35 aircraft, particularly with
respect to cost efficiency and timely delivery.
(2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States and
Israel in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime security,
energy, cyber-security, and other related areas.
(3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the Eastern
Mediterranean.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed
Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed
Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Qualitative military edge.--The term ``qualitative military
edge'' has the meaning given the term in section 36(h)(2) of the
Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)).
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.