[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2165 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2165
To enhance strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 6, 2012
Mrs. Boxer (for herself, Mr. Isakson, and Ms. Collins) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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 the State of Israel was established in 1948,
Presidents of both parties and both Houses of Congress,
supported by the American people, have recognized 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 profound
challenges to regional security--particularly to our most
important ally, Israel--and to the national security of the
United States.
(3) The past year has witnessed the fall of old regimes and
the rise of political parties in the Middle East who must now
choose between a course of moderation and inclusion in the
international community or a course of extremism and isolation.
(4) The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is
continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking to foment
instability in the Middle East, particularly in this time of
dramatic political transition.
(5) At the same time, the Government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran continues to enrich uranium in defiance of
international law.
(6) 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.
(7) Over the past several years, with the assistance of the
Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria,
Hezbollah 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 develop
its missile technology as well, including cruise missiles.
(8) As a result, the Government and people of Israel are
facing a fundamentally altered strategic environment fraught
with new and profound challenges.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF UNITED STATES 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 provide the Government of Israel the military
capabilities necessary to deter and defend itself against any
threat or possible combination of threats.
(3) 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.
(4) To veto any one-sided anti-Israel resolutions at the
United Nations Security Council.
(5) To support Israel's inherent right to self-defense.
(6) To pursue every opportunity to expand cooperation with
the Government of Israel on defense and national security
matters and across the spectrum of civilian sectors, including
advanced technology, agriculture, medicine, health,
pharmaceuticals, and energy.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
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) Work to encourage an expanded role for Israel within
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an
enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
(3) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation,
including satellite intelligence, with the Government of
Israel.
(4) 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.
(5) Provide the Government of Israel with necessary support
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.
(6) Make every effort to assure the provision to the
Government of Israel of defensive equipment through such
mechanisms as lend-lease, to include air refueling tankers,
missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions.
(7) Undertake efforts to make available for purchase by the
Government of Israel surplus defense items, particularly those
resulting from the end of United States combat operations in
Iraq.
(8) Offer the Air Force of Israel additional training and
exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for
Israel's limited air space.
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).--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 the status of Israel's qualitative military edge in light of
current trends and instability in the Middle East region, including
what, if any, mitigating technologies could be provided to the
Government of Israel to counter increasing threats in the region.
(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 the following matters:
(1) Actions to improve the acquisition process for the
purchase of F-35 aircraft by Israel, particularly with respect
to cost efficiency and on-time delivery, taking into account
the urgent need of the Government of Israel for such aircraft.
(2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States
Government and the Government of 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)).
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