117 HR 9637 IH: United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2024
U.S. House of Representatives
2024-09-17
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I
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9637
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2024
Mr. Phillips (for himself and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To improve defense cooperation between the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2024”.
2.

Sense of congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
expeditious consideration of certifications of letters of offer to sell defense articles, defense services, design and construction services, and major defense equipment to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)) is fully consistent with United States security and foreign policy interests and the objectives of world peace and security; and
(2)
the United States commitment to the stability and security of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is ironclad, as demonstrated by the signing of the fourth Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership in September 2022, which provides $1,450,000,000 per year in United States bilateral foreign assistance to Jordan beginning in fiscal year 2023 and ending in fiscal year 2029.
3.

Enhanced defense cooperation
(a)

Arms Export Control Act
(1)

In general
During the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan shall be treated as if it were a country listed in each of the provisions of law described in paragraph (2) for purposes of applying and administering such provisions of law.
(2)

Covered provisions of law
The provisions of law described in this paragraph are the following provisions of the Arms Export Control Act:
(A)
Subsections (b)(2), (d)(2)(B), (d)(3)(A)(i), and (d)(5) of section 3 (22 U.S.C. 2753).
(B)
Subsections (e)(2)(A), (h)(1)(A), and (h)(2) of section 21 (22 U.S.C. 2761).
(C)
Subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(6), (c), and (d)(2)(A) of section 36 (22 U.S.C. 2776).
(D)
Section 62(c)(1) (22 U.S.C. 2796a(c)(1)).
(E)
Section 63(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2796b(a)(2)).
(b)

Establishment of capabilities
(1)

Authorization
(A)

In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Commander of United States Central Command, shall seek to work in cooperation with the Minister of Defense of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to establish or further capabilities for countering rockets, cruise and ballistic missiles, and manned and unmanned aerial systems that threaten the United States, Jordan, and other allies and partners of the United States, including threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies.
(B)

Protection of sensitive technology and information
The Secretary shall ensure that any activities carried out under this subsection are conducted in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive technology and information and the national security interests of the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
(2)

Limitation and report
Activities may not be carried out under the authority provided by paragraph (1) until the date on which the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth the following:
(A)
A memorandum of agreement between the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan regarding sharing of research and development costs for the capabilities described in paragraph (1)(A), including any supporting documents.
(B)
A certification that such memorandum of agreement—
(i)
requires sharing of costs of projects, including in-kind support, between the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
(ii)
establishes a framework to negotiate the rights to any intellectual property developed under the memorandum of agreement; and
(iii)
requires the United States Government to receive semiannual reports on expenditure of funds, if any, by the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including a description of what the funds have been used for, when funds were expended, and an identification of entities that expended the funds.
(3)

Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(c)

Middle East integrated air and missile defense
(1)

In general
Pursuant to section 1658 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263), the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State and with the concurrence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, develop a plan to bolster the participation of Jordan in a multinational integrated air and missile defense architecture to protect the people, infrastructure, and territory of Jordan from cruise and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned aerial systems, and rocket attacks from Iran or groups linked to Iran.
(2)

Briefing
Not later than March 1, 2025, the Secretary and the Commander of United States Central Command shall provide to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives—
(A)
a briefing on the progress of the Department of Defense towards bolstering the participation of Jordan in a multinational integrated air and missile defense architecture; and
(B)
a list of requirements, including cost estimates, for strengthening the defense of Jordan within this architecture.
(d)

Sunset
The authority to carry out activities described in subsection (b) and to provide support described in subsection (c) shall expire on December 31, 2028.
4.

Memorandum of understanding
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of State is authorized to enter into a new memorandum of understanding with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, following the expiration of the current memorandum in fiscal year 2029, to further increase economic support funds, military cooperation, including joint military exercises, personnel exchanges, support for international peacekeeping missions, and enhanced strategic dialogue.