[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.