[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4133 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4133
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 10, 2012
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To express the sense of Congress regarding the United States-Israel
strategic relationship, to direct the President to submit to Congress
reports on United States actions to enhance this relationship and to
assist in the defense of 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 finds the following:
(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 our most important ally
in the region, Israel. Over the past year, the Middle East has
witnessed the fall of some regimes long considered to be
stabilizing forces and a rise in the influence of radical
Islamists.
(3) Iran, which has long sought to foment instability and
promote extremism in the Middle East, is now seeking to exploit
the dramatic political transition underway in the region to
undermine governments traditionally aligned with the United
States and support extremist political movements in these
countries.
(4) At the same time, Iran may soon attain a nuclear
weapons capability, a development that would fundamentally
threaten vital American interests, destabilize the region,
encourage regional nuclear proliferation, further empower and
embolden Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism,
and provide it the tools to threaten its neighbors, including
Israel.
(5) Over the past several years, with the assistance of
Iran and Syria, Hizballah and Hamas have increased their
stockpiles of rockets, with more than 60,000 rockets now ready
to be fired at Israel. Iran continues to add to its arsenal of
ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, which threaten Iran's
neighbors, Israel, and United States military forces in the
region.
(6) As a result, the strategic environment that has kept
Israel secure and safeguarded United States national interests
for the past 35 years has eroded.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States:
(1) To reaffirm the enduring commitment of the United
States to the security of the State of Israel as a Jewish
state. As President Obama stated on December 16, 2011,
``America's commitment and my commitment to Israel and Israel's
security is unshakeable.''. And as President Bush stated before
the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the
State of Israel on May 15, 2008, ``The alliance between our
governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship
runs deeper than any treaty.''.
(2) To provide Israel the military capabilities necessary
to deter and defend itself by itself against any threats.
(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 Israel in
both defense and across the spectrum of civilian sectors,
including high technology, agriculture, medicine, health,
pharmaceuticals, and energy.
(6) To assist Israel with its on-going 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.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AND
PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States should take the following actions to assist in the defense of
Israel:
(1) Provide Israel such support as may be necessary to
increase development and production of joint missile defense
systems, particularly such systems that defend the urgent
threat posed to Israel and United States forces in the region.
(2) Provide 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.
(3) Provide Israel defense articles and defense services
through such mechanisms as appropriate, to include air
refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and
specialized munitions.
(4) Allocate additional weaponry and munitions for the
forward-deployed United States stockpile in Israel.
(5) Provide Israel additional surplus defense articles and
defense services, as appropriate, in the wake of the withdrawal
of United States forces from Iraq.
(6) Strengthen efforts to prevent weapons smuggling into
Gaza pursuant to the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access
following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and to protect
against weapons smuggling and terrorist threats from the Sinai
Peninsula.
(7) Offer the Israeli Air Force additional training and
exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for
Israel's limited air space.
(8) Expand Israel's authority to make purchases under the
Foreign Military Financing program on a commercial basis.
(9) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the United States
and Israel to address emerging common threats, increase
security cooperation, and expand joint military exercises.
(10) Encourage an expanded role for Israel within the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an enhanced
presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
(11) Support extension of the long-standing loan guarantee
program for Israel, recognizing Israel's unbroken record of
repaying its loans on time and in full.
(12) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation,
including satellite intelligence, with Israel.
(b) Report on Israel's Qualitative Military Edge.--
(1) Statement of policy.--It is the policy of the United
States--
(A) to help Israel preserve its qualitative
military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional
political transformation; and
(B) to encourage further development of advanced
technology programs between the United States and
Israel given current trends and instability in the
region.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report
on the status of Israel's qualitative military edge in light of
current trends and instability in the region.
(c) 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:
(1) Taking into account Israel's urgent requirement for F-
35 aircraft, actions to improve the process relating to
Israel's purchase of F-35 aircraft to improve cost efficiency
and timely delivery.
(2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States
and Israel in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime
security, energy, cybersecurity, and other appropriate areas.
(3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the
Eastern Mediterranean.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee
on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee
on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate.
(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)).
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE LOAN GUARANTEES TO ISRAEL.
(a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title I of the Emergency Wartime
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-11), as amended,
is further amended in the item relating to ``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''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives May 9, 2012.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.