[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2413 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2413

 To expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords and the Negev Forum, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 20, 2023

Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Risch, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Booker, 
 and Mr. Lankford) introduced the following bill; which was read twice 
           and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords and the Negev Forum, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Regional 
Integration and Normalization Act of 2023'' or ``RINA''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Findings.
Sec. 4. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 5. Statement of policy.
Sec. 6. United States Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham 
                            Accords, Negev Forum, and Related 
                            Normalization Agreements.
Sec. 7. Enhanced reporting requirements under the Israel Relations 
                            Normalization Act.
Sec. 8. Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Regional Integration 
                            Opportunity Fund.
Sec. 9. United States, Abraham Accords, and Negev Forum economic 
                            partnership.
Sec. 10. Supporting regional integration through multilaterals, 
                            scientific collaboration, and interfaith 
                            initiatives.
Sec. 11. Supporting regional integration through a young Middle East 
                            leaders initiative program.
Sec. 12. Supporting regional integration through educational exchange 
                            and people-to-people engagement.
Sec. 13. Strengthening and expanding the Abraham Accords and Negev 
                            Forum through industrial and scientific 
                            research and development.
Sec. 14. Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund.
Sec. 15. Joint cybersecurity training activities and information 
                            sharing.
Sec. 16. Leveraging United States economic toolkit to support regional 
                            integration and normalization efforts.
Sec. 17. Cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and 
                            Abraham Accords countries and Negev Forum 
                            countries.
Sec. 18. Supporting structures that expand cooperation across regions 
                            in key areas.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Abraham accords.--The term ``Abraham Accords'' means--
                    (A) the Abraham Accords Declaration, done at 
                Washington September 15, 2020;
                    (B) the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement: Treaty of 
                Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalization 
                Between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, done at 
                Washington September 15, 2020;
                    (C) the Abraham Accords: Declaration of Peace, 
                Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly 
                Relations, done at Washington September 15, 2020, 
                between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain; and
                    (D) the Joint Declaration of the Kingdom of 
                Morocco, the United States, and Israel, done at Rabat 
                December 22, 2020.
            (2) Abraham accords country.--The term ``Abraham Accords 
        country'' means a country that is a party to the Abraham 
        Accords.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives.
            (4) Expand.--The term ``expand'', with respect to the 
        Abraham Accords, means to increase the number of regional, 
        Arab, or Muslim-majority countries that seek to normalize 
        relations with the State of Israel.
            (5) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Abraham Accords and 
        Negev Forum Opportunity Fund established under section 8.
            (6) Key partners in regional integration.--The term ``key 
        partners in regional integration'' means--
                    (A) any Abraham Accords country;
                    (B) Egypt;
                    (C) Jordan;
                    (D) the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and
                    (E) any other active and constructive country that 
                supports cooperation--
                            (i) to normalize relations between 
                        countries in the Middle East and North Africa 
                        and Israel; and
                            (ii) to advance regional integration.
            (7) Negev forum.--The term ``Negev Forum'' means the 
        regional grouping known as the Negev Forum Regional Cooperation 
        Framework that was adopted on November 10, 2022, or any 
        successor group.
            (8) Negev forum country.--The term ``Negev Forum country'' 
        means the government of any of the following countries:
                    (A) Bahrain.
                    (B) Egypt.
                    (C) Israel.
                    (D) Morocco.
                    (E) The United Arab Emirates.
                    (F) The United States.
                    (G) Any country that joins the Negev Forum as a 
                full member after the date of the enactment of this 
                Act.
            (9) Observer.--The term ``observer''--
                    (A) means any country, particularly inside the 
                Middle East and North Africa region, or political 
                entity that--
                            (i) directly supports the objectives and 
                        processes of the Negev Forum;
                            (ii) expresses serious interest in 
                        participating in certain projects determined by 
                        the Negev Forum that benefit normalization with 
                        Israel and greater regional integration; and
                            (iii) is not an official member of the 
                        Negev Forum Steering Committee or any working 
                        group of the Negev Forum; and
                    (B) includes 3+1 format members Cyprus and Greece.
            (10) Other regional actors.--The term ``other regional 
        actors'' means the Palestinian Authority or a credible future 
        political entity that serves as the interlocutor for the 
        Palestinian people.
            (11) Special envoy.--The term ``Special Envoy'' means the 
        Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev 
        Forum, and Related Normalization Agreements established under 
        section 6.
            (12) Strengthen.--The term ``strengthen'', with respect to 
        the Abraham Accords and the Negev Forum, means to engage in 
        efforts that improve the diplomatic relations between Abraham 
        Accords countries and broaden the breadth and scope of issues 
        on which Abraham Accords countries cooperate.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) On March 26, 1979, Egypt signed a peace treaty with 
        Israel, becoming the first Arab country to establish full, 
        normalized, diplomatic relations with Israel.
            (2) On October 26, 1994, Jordan signed a peace treaty with 
        Israel, becoming the second Arab country to normalize ties with 
        Israel.
            (3) On March 27, 2002, the Arab League unanimously endorsed 
        the Arab Peace Initiative, which offered the possibility of 
        normalized relations between the Arab League and Israel for the 
        first time.
            (4) On September 15, 2020, the governments of the United 
        Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed bilateral agreements, known 
        collectively as the Abraham Accords, to normalize relations 
        with Israel.
            (5) Sudan and Morocco agreed to normalize ties with Israel 
        on October 23, 2020, and December 10, 2020, respectively.
            (6) Collectively, such agreements marked the first 
        normalizations of diplomatic relations with Israel since the 
        normalizations between Israel and Jordan in 1994 and Israel and 
        Egypt in 1979.
            (7) In March 2022, the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, 
        Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and the United 
        States convened in Sde Boker, Israel, for the first Negev 
        Summit and agreed to form a framework that--
                    (A) multilateralizes regional cooperation that 
                centers on countries that have normalized relations 
                with Israel; and
                    (B) is inclusive of other countries and interested 
                parties.
            (8) In January 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 
        senior officials of the Negev Forum countries held the 
        inaugural meeting of the Negev Forum working groups, which are 
        the following:
                    (A) Regional Security.
                    (B) Education.
                    (C) Food and Water Security.
                    (D) Energy.
                    (E) Tourism.
                    (F) Healthcare.
            (9) Overall trade between Israel and Abraham Accords 
        countries increased from $593,000,000 to $3,470,000,000 between 
        2019 and 2022, according to the Israeli Census Bureau.
            (10) On May 29, 2022, Egypt and Israel agreed to jointly 
        upgrade the Nitzana Border Crossing to ``promote trade 
        relations with Egypt and create quality employment in the 
        south, alongside activity by Israeli companies in the Egyptian 
        market'' and to boost annual bilateral trade to $700,000,000 by 
        2025.
            (11) On June 19, 2022, an Egyptian trade delegation and 
        members of the Federation of Egyptian Industries visited Israel 
        for the first time in a decade.
            (12) On May 31, 2022, the United Arab Emirates and Israel 
        signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between 
        the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government 
        of the State of Israel, entered into force April 1, 2023 
        (commonly known as the ``UAE-Israel CEPA''), abolishing customs 
        duties on 96 percent of the products exchanged between the two 
        countries, including food, agricultural goods, cosmetics, 
        medical equipment, and medicine.
            (13) On December 11, 2022, the governments of the United 
        Arab Emirates and Israel ratified the UAE-Israel CEPA.
            (14) Tourism in the Middle East has increased since the 
        Abraham Accords were signed.
            (15) In 2022, at least 350,000 Israelis traveled to the 
        United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain.
            (16) The Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex to 
        promote the values of human solidarity, mutual respect, and 
        peaceful coexistence, was officially inaugurated and opened to 
        worshippers on February 16, 2023, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab 
        Emirates.
            (17) Joint water security and clean energy projects between 
        Negev Forum countries have deepened as a result of 
        normalization.
            (18) On November 8, 2022, Jordan, Israel, and the United 
        Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding with respect 
        to Project Prosperity, a project to build a 600-megawatt solar 
        farm in Jordan and a water desalination plant in Israel to 
        export 300,000,000 cubic meters of desalinated water to Jordan 
        annually.
            (19) On November 17, 2022, Morocco and Israel signed a 
        memorandum of understanding to cooperate on drinking water and 
        liquid sanitation.
            (20) Research and innovation collaboration have increased 
        between Negev Forum countries in aviation, technology, and 
        healthcare.
            (21) On July 4, 2021, Emirati and Israeli medical 
        institutions partnered to create a digital health platform for 
        remote patient management in Dubai.
            (22) On March 23, 2022, Morocco and Israel signed an 
        agreement to cooperate on civilian aerospace projects.
            (23) On June 24, 2022, the Minister of Interior of Israel 
        launched a pilot program to attract Moroccan workers to 
        construction, programming, and nursing sectors in Israel.
            (24) On September 14, 2022, Abdelmalek Essaddi University 
        in Morocco and the University of Haifa in Israel signed a 
        memorandum of understanding to advance cooperation in marine 
        research and technologies.
            (25) Educational and cultural ties have deepened between 
        Negev Forum countries through university programs, media, and 
        community activism.
            (26) On November 18, 2021, the United Arab Emirates and 
        Israel signed a memorandum of understanding with respect to 
        educational affairs, promoting exchanges between academics and 
        students.
            (27) On January 11, 2022, the Association of Gulf Jewish 
        Communities launched a fundraising campaign to restore a 100-
        year-old Jewish cemetery in Bahrain.
            (28) On March 31, 2022, the Technion-Israel Institute of 
        Technology and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco 
        signed a document of academic cooperation.
            (29) On May 31, 2022, i24NEWS became the first Israeli news 
        network to open bureaus in Morocco.
            (30) In December 2022, a delegation of Israeli influencers, 
        comprised of prominent Jewish and Arab content creators in the 
        fields of music, sports, fashion, science, and comedy, visited 
        Morocco on a trip organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
        of Israel.
            (31) On January 9, 2023, the United Arab Emirates announced 
        it would include Holocaust education in the curriculum for 
        primary and secondary schools.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) advanced levels of economic and cultural integration in 
        a region correlate with greater stability, faster rates of 
        economic growth, higher levels of economic competitiveness, and 
        overall improved prosperity for the people living in such a 
        region;
            (2) deeper cooperation and regional integration among 
        Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum countries, observers, 
        other key partners in regional integration, and other regional 
        actors is fundamental to the long-term stability, prosperity, 
        competitiveness, and success of the Middle East and North 
        Africa;
            (3) promoting regional integration in the Middle East and 
        North Africa and formal normalization between Israel, 
        neighboring Arab countries, and non-Arab countries outside of 
        the Middle East and North Africa, is in the strategic interest 
        of the United States, and should be a key pillar of United 
        States foreign policy;
            (4) regional integration in the Middle East and North 
        Africa should remain an open and inclusive process with 
        opportunities for participants beyond only those countries with 
        formal normalization;
            (5) civil society engagement and people-to-people 
        connections are critical to successful and sustainable regional 
        integration among Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum 
        countries, observers, other key partners in regional 
        integration, and other regional actors;
            (6) the Negev Forum, any successor group, and other 
        regional integration initiatives would benefit from 
        constructive and positive participation by the Palestinian 
        Authority, or a credible, future political entity that serves 
        as the interlocutor for the Palestinian people, while also 
        strengthening the Palestinian economy and improving the quality 
        of life for Palestinian people through United States support in 
        compliance with the Taylor Force Act (Title X of division S of 
        Public Law 115-141) and other applicable Federal laws;
            (7) constructive Palestinian participation in the Negev 
        Forum, or a successor group, should remain a priority for 
        current and future structures, as inclusivity will build 
        stronger support for normalization with Israel and create 
        momentum towards a comprehensive and sustainable peace; and
            (8) efforts to deepen and expand the Abraham Accords, the 
        Negev Forum, and future regional organizations can reduce the 
        likelihood of conflict, improve ties between Israel and 
        neighboring countries, and advance the goal of achieving 
        lasting peace in the Middle East, which serves the longstanding 
        goal of United States policy which has been to support a 
        comprehensive and sustainable peace that includes mutual 
        recognition, dignity, and peaceful neighborly relations between 
        Israelis and Palestinians towards two states for two peoples.

SEC. 5. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords and the 
        Negev Forum within the Middle East and North Africa and beyond;
            (2) to institutionalize regional integration as a key 
        pillar of policies of the United States with respect to the 
        Middle East and North Africa;
            (3) to maintain the leadership of and facilitation by the 
        United States with respect to integration efforts in the Middle 
        East and North Africa;
            (4) to facilitate efforts to normalize relations formally 
        between Israel and neighboring Arab and Muslim-majority 
        countries to achieve shared regional integration, cooperation, 
        and development objectives, consistent with the national 
        security, economic, and development interests of the United 
        States;
            (5) to engage in active diplomacy to expand the number of 
        participants in formal normalization frameworks, as well as in 
        non-formal integration structures in the Middle East and North 
        Africa;
            (6) to strengthen collective security by continuing and 
        expanding efforts on regional defense cooperation, as required 
        by strategic interests of the United States;
            (7) to develop and implement an integrated regional 
        security strategy in the Middle East and North Africa that--
                    (A) recognizes the shared threat posed by the 
                Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies and violent 
                extremism and terrorism;
                    (B) ensures sufficient United States deterrence in 
                the region;
                    (C) builds partner capacity to address shared 
                threats; and
                    (D) reinforces the importance of multilateral 
                security arrangements;
            (8) to encourage deeper trade, business, commercial, and 
        investment relationships between Negev Forum countries, 
        observers, and key partners in regional integration, in line 
        with the economic and development interests of the people of 
        the United States and United States partners and allies in the 
        region;
            (9) to support the work of the Negev Forum and the Negev 
        Forum working groups on food security and water technology, 
        energy, tourism, healthcare, education and coexistence, and 
        regional security;
            (10) to expand the Negev Forum working groups as necessary 
        and appropriate, including by modifying the framework as future 
        needs and opportunities arise;
            (11) to support integration initiatives in the Middle East 
        and North Africa that strengthen the Palestinian economy and 
        improve the quality of life for Palestinians;
            (12) to urge Negev Forum countries and Abraham Accords 
        countries to oppose efforts to isolate, delegitimize, or 
        diplomatically boycott Israel in international or regional 
        bodies, including the United Nations General Assembly, United 
        Nations Security Council, United Nations Human Rights Council, 
        and other entities of the United Nations;
            (13) to foster religious freedom, coexistence, and 
        tolerance throughout the Middle East through interfaith and 
        intercultural dialogue between Israel and Arab and Muslim-
        majority countries; and
            (14) to develop a comprehensive interagency effort to 
        support the policy described in paragraphs (1) through (13).

SEC. 6. UNITED STATES SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR THE ABRAHAM 
              ACCORDS, NEGEV FORUM, AND RELATED NORMALIZATION 
              AGREEMENTS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of 
State the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham 
Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Integration and Normalization Fora 
and Agreements (referred to in this section as the ``Regional 
Integration Office'').
    (b) Leadership.--
            (1) Special envoy.--The Regional Integration Office shall 
        be headed by the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham 
        Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Normalization Agreements, who 
        shall--
                    (A) be appointed by the President, by and with the 
                advice and consent of the Senate; and
                    (B) report directly to the Secretary of State.
            (2) Rank.--The Special Envoy shall have the rank and status 
        of ambassador.
    (c) Limitation.--The Special Envoy shall not be a dual-hatted 
official with other responsibilities within the Department of State or 
the executive branch.
    (d) Duties and Responsibilities.--The Special Envoy shall--
            (1) lead diplomatic engagement--
                    (A) to strengthen and expand the Negev Forum, the 
                Abraham Accords, and related normalization agreements 
                with Israel, including promoting initiatives that 
                benefit the people of key partners in regional 
                integration or other regional actors in order to 
                encourage such expansion; and
                    (B) to support the work of regional integration;
            (2) implement the policy of the United States to expand 
        normalization and support greater regional integration--
                    (A) within the Middle East and North Africa; and
                    (B) between the Middle East and North Africa and 
                other key regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, the 
                Indo-Pacific region, and beyond;
            (3) work to deliver tangible economic and security benefits 
        for the citizens of Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum 
        countries, and countries that are members of other related 
        normalization agreements;
            (4) serve as the ministerial liaison for the United States 
        to the Negev Forum, and other emerging normalization and 
        integration fora, as necessary, and provide senior 
        representation at events, steering committee meetings, and 
        other relevant diplomatic engagements relating to the Negev 
        Forum or other regional integration bodies;
            (5) coordinate all cross-agency engagements and strategies 
        in support of normalization efforts with other relevant 
        officials and agencies;
            (6) ensure that the appropriate congressional committees 
        are regularly informed about the work of the Regional 
        Integration Office;
            (7) initiate and advance negotiations on a framework for an 
        economic and security partnership with the Negev Forum 
        countries, other key partners in regional integration, and 
        other regional actors; and
            (8) oppose efforts to delegitimize Israel and legal 
        barriers to normalization with Israel.
    (e) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that whole-of-
government resources should be harnessed to ensure the successful 
performance by the Special Envoy of the duties described in subsection 
(d).
    (f) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Special Envoy 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 actions taken by all relevant Federal agencies--
            (1) to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords and the 
        work of the Negev Forum and future structures and 
        organizations; and
            (2) towards the objectives of regional integration.
    (g) Termination.--This section shall terminate on the date that is 
6 years after date of the enactment of this Act.
    (h) Rule of Construction.--If, on the date of the enactment of this 
Act, an individual has already been designated, consistent with the 
requirements and responsibilities described in subsections (b), (c), 
and (d) and section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 
1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a), the requirements under subsection (b) shall be 
considered to be satisfied with respect to such individual until the 
date on which such individual no longer serves as the Special Envoy.

SEC. 7. ENHANCED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE ISRAEL RELATIONS 
              NORMALIZATION ACT.

    Section 105(b) of the Israel Relations Normalization Act (division 
Z of Public Law 117-103; 136 Stat. 1061) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(12) An assessment of ongoing and future United States 
        Government efforts to support the Negev Forum and its component 
        working groups.
            ``(13) An assessment of ongoing and future United States 
        Government efforts to encourage Israel and key partners in 
        regional integration to--
                    ``(A) use efficient and innovative energy 
                technologies;
                    ``(B) ensure equitable access to quality and 
                relevant education and healthcare;
                    ``(C) foster cooperation between Israel, Abraham 
                Accords countries, Negev Forum countries, and other key 
                partners in regional integration in the fields of 
                maritime security and integration, and integrated air 
                and missile defense;
                    ``(D) develop and harness technologies to mitigate 
                food and water insecurity; and
                    ``(E) foster equal measures of freedom, security, 
                prosperity, and stability for all citizens of the 
                region.
            ``(14) Recommendations on how to support economic 
        conditions that promote commercial engagement, innovation, 
        competitiveness, new businesses, inclusive economic growth, and 
        the education of future innovators, entrepreneurs, and business 
        leaders in the region.
            ``(15) An assessment of the policy and regulatory 
        environment for tourism, trade, innovation, and investment in 
        Negev Forum countries and recommendations on how to improve 
        regional integration for such sectors.
            ``(16) Recommendations on how to forge partnerships with 
        non-Negev Forum states, observers, and other key partners in 
        regional integration that share the vision of the Negev Forum 
        for regional integration.''
            ``(17) A detailed description of efforts to normalize 
        relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia and associated 
        impacts on the region, including regional security, Arab-
        Israeli dynamics, trade, and development.
            ``(18) An assessment of the structure, frequency of 
        meeting, and format of working groups of the Negev Forum and 
        recommendations to maximize economic and security benefits for 
        Abraham Accords countries and Negev Forum countries.''.

SEC. 8. ABRAHAM ACCORDS, NEGEV FORUM, AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION 
              OPPORTUNITY FUND.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to advance regional economic integration and provide 
        tangible economic benefits to Abraham Accords countries and 
        Negev Forum countries;
            (2) to promote the economic security of allies and partners 
        of the United States by encouraging the development of 
        accessible, transparent, and competitive markets; and
            (3) to encourage public and private sector investment in 
        projects in Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum countries, 
        and other key partner countries to expand inclusive economic 
        development in a way that is consistent with the absorptive 
        capacity of the Middle East and North Africa.
    (b) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the 
United States a fund to be known as the ``Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, 
and Regional Integration Opportunity Fund'', which shall consist of 
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations 
under subsection (d).
    (c) Use of Funds.--The Secretary of State and the Special Envoy, in 
consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, shall administer the 
Fund to advance regional economic integration and provide tangible 
security and economic benefits to Abraham Accords countries and Negev 
Forum countries.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of the Treasury $105,000,000 for fiscal 
years 2024 through 2030.
    (e) Transfer Authority.--The Secretary of State, in coordination 
with the Special Envoy, may transfer any amount of the funds authorized 
under subsection (d) to any account of the Department of State or any 
other Federal agency to effectively implement the policy described in 
subsection (a).
    (f) Congressional Notification.--None of the funds authorized under 
subsection (d) may be obligated or expended under this section until 
the Secretary of State notifies the appropriate congressional 
committees and the Committee on Appropriations of each House of the 
Congress of the amount and nature of the proposed obligation or 
expenditure not fewer than 15 days in advance of the date of the 
proposed obligation or expenditure, in accordance with the procedures 
applicable to notifications regarding reprogrammings pursuant to 634A 
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).
    (g) Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Special Envoy, in consultation 
        with other relevant Federal agencies as determined by the 
        Special Envoy, shall develop and submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a strategy that includes the following 
        elements:
                    (A) An estimate of the spend rate of the Fund for 
                fiscal years 2024 through 2030.
                    (B) An estimate of the amounts to be transferred 
                from the Treasury to other Federal agencies in the 
                first 3 years of the Fund.
                    (C) An analysis of how the Fund can be used to 
                strengthen and expand bilateral and multilateral 
                cooperation between Israel, Abraham Accords countries, 
                Negev Forum countries, and key partners in regional 
                integration.
            (2) Form.--The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
        annex.
    (h) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the next 
        6 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
        relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a report on the activities and use of 
        funds under this section, including any amounts transferred to 
        other Federal agencies from the Treasury.
            (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
        annex.

SEC. 9. UNITED STATES, ABRAHAM ACCORDS, AND NEGEV FORUM ECONOMIC 
              PARTNERSHIP.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States should seek to develop and negotiate 
        a comprehensive framework for economic engagement with Abraham 
        Accords countries, Negev Forum countries, and key partners in 
        regional integration to deepen regulatory alignment, expand 
        regional economic growth, attract investment, increase 
        competitiveness, and strengthen and secure supply chains;
            (2) the Special Envoy should initiate negotiations with 
        Abraham Accords countries and Negev Forum countries, observers, 
        and key partners in regional integration on an economic 
        framework that includes--
                    (A) improving supply chain security and resiliency;
                    (B) aligning common regulatory and financial 
                standards;
                    (C) attracting foreign investment;
                    (D) diversification of energy resources, including 
                renewable sources of energy, and the development and 
                deployment of emerging and advanced technologies that 
                promote energy security; and
                    (E) digital economy, cybersecurity, and cross-
                border data flow;
            (3) the Special Envoy, in consultation with all other 
        relevant Federal agencies, should lead interagency efforts to 
        reach an international agreement on the comprehensive economic 
        framework described by paragraph (2); and
            (4) the Special Envoy should endeavor to embed already 
        established standards on countering money laundering and 
        terrorist financing into the regional economic framework 
        described by paragraph (2).

SEC. 10. SUPPORTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION THROUGH MULTILATERALS, 
              SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION, AND INTERFAITH INITIATIVES.

    (a) Department of State Programs.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of State $2,500,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028, of which--
            (1) $500,000 shall be made available in the Fund to provide 
        support for expanding participation by Negev Forum countries in 
        the Middle East Desalination Research Center;
            (2) $1,000,000 shall be made available for the Middle East 
        Multilaterals program of the Department of State to provide 
        support for the work of the Negev Forum and its corresponding 
        working groups; and
            (3) $1,000,000 shall be made available for interfaith 
        dialogue programming between Abraham Accords countries, Negev 
        Forum countries, observers, other regional actors, and key 
        partners in regional integration, and the United States for the 
        purpose of fostering mutual trust, reducing harmful 
        perceptions, and promoting sustainable peace and cooperation in 
        the region, through projects that--
                    (A) support programming centered on coexistence and 
                interfaith education; and
                    (B) seek to restore and preserve Jewish sites in 
                Arab countries both in and outside the Abraham Accords 
                and Negev Forum.
    (b) United States Agency for International Development Programs.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Administrator of the United States 
        Agency for International Development $6,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2024, for the Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) program.
            (2) Prioritization.--The Administrator shall prioritize the 
        awarding of funding authorized under paragraph (1) for 
        proposals submitted by Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum 
        countries, other regional actors, or key partners in regional 
        integration that support Negev Forum objectives.
    (c) Burden Sharing.--Assistance agreements entered into by the 
Secretary of State or the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development under this section shall include provisions 
to promote domestic resource mobilization and cost-sharing, as 
determined necessary and appropriate by the Secretary or the 
Administrator, as the case may be.
    (d) International Religious Freedom Report.--In the Annual Report 
on International Religious Freedom submitted by the Secretary of State 
in accordance with section 102(b) of the International Religious 
Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)), the Secretary of State shall, 
for each Abraham Accords country and Negev Forum country, include 
information on progress and challenges relating to the Negev Working 
Group on Education and Tolerance and advancing religious tolerance and 
interfaith understanding among and within the Abraham Accords 
countries.
    (e) Report on Funding.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 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 use of 
the funds appropriated in accordance with subsection (a), which shall 
include--
            (1) a description of any programs funded; and
            (2) a list of countries in which such programs were 
        executed to support the purposes described by subsection 
        (a)(3).

SEC. 11. SUPPORTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION THROUGH A YOUNG MIDDLE EAST 
              LEADERS INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to provide educational and professional opportunities 
        to Middle Eastern youth through scholarships, leadership 
        programs, and cultural exchanges that create and sustain mutual 
        understanding with other countries and cultivate people-to-
        people ties; and
            (2) to support the long-term prosperity and stability of 
        Negev Forum countries, key partners in regional integration, 
        and other regional actors by improving educational and 
        professional opportunities for young people in the Middle East 
        and North Africa and to promote youth participation in civil 
        society, governance, and politics.
    (b) In General.--There is established in the Department of State 
the Young Middle East Leaders Initiative (referred to in this section 
as the ``YMELI program'').
    (c) Administration.--The YMELI program shall be jointly 
administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and 
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
    (d) Purpose.--The YMELI program shall seek to build the capacity of 
young leaders in Negev Forum countries, key partners in regional 
integration, and other regional actors to address issues in the areas 
of energy diversification, education and coexistence, business 
development and investment promotion, food and water security, health, 
regional security, and tourism, including through efforts--
            (1) to support young leaders by offering professional 
        development, training, and networking opportunities to increase 
        the educational capacity of youth in the Middle East and North 
        Africa in such areas; and
            (2) to provide increased economic and technical assistance 
        to young leaders in Negev Forum countries, key partners in 
        regional integration, and other regional actors to promote 
        economic growth and strengthen ties between the United States 
        and such groups.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
support the creation of the YMELI program and other people-to-people 
exchange programs.
    (f) Fellowships.--The YMELI program shall award fellowships through 
the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program to eligible young leaders.
    (g) Regional Leadership Centers.--The YMELI program may establish 
regional leadership centers in Negev Forum countries and key partners 
in regional integration to offer training to eligible young leaders.
    (h) Activities.--
            (1) United states-based activities.--The Secretary of 
        State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development and the heads of 
        other relevant Federal agencies, shall oversee all United 
        States-based activities carried out under the YMELI program.
            (2) MENA-based activities.--The Secretary of State, in 
        coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency 
        for International Development and the heads of other relevant 
        Federal agencies, shall support activities carried out under 
        the YMELI program in Negev Forum countries, key partners in 
        regional integration, and other regional actors, including by 
        providing--
                    (A) access to continued leadership training and 
                other professional development opportunities, including 
                online courses, technical assistance, and access to 
                funding, for alumni of the YMELI program upon the 
                return of such alumni to their home countries;
                    (B) training to eligible young leaders at regional 
                leadership centers established in accordance with 
                subsection (g) and through online and in-person courses 
                offered by such centers; and
                    (C) opportunities for networking and engagement 
                with--
                            (i) alumni of the YMELI program at regional 
                        leadership centers established in accordance 
                        with subsection (g); and
                            (ii) United States organizations, business 
                        leaders, and others, as appropriate.
    (i) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
seek to partner with the private sector to pursue public-private 
partnerships, leverage private sector expertise, expand networking 
opportunities, and identify funding opportunities and fellowship and 
employment opportunities for participants in the YMELI program.
    (j) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan for 
implementing the YMELI program, which shall include--
            (1) a description of clearly defined program goals, 
        targets, and planned outcomes for each year and for the 
        duration of the YMELI program;
            (2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the YMELI program 
        and progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and 
        planned outcomes; and
            (3) a strategy to ensure that the YMELI program is 
        promoting United States foreign policy goals in the Middle East 
        and North Africa, including ensuring that the YMELI program is 
        clearly branded and paired with robust public diplomacy 
        efforts.
    (k) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the next 
        5 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
        Development, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report that includes--
                    (A) a description of the progress made toward 
                achieving the goals, targets, and planned outcomes 
                described in subsection (j)(1), including an overview 
                of the implementation of the YEMLI program during the 
                previous year and an estimated number of YMELI program 
                beneficiaries during such year;
                    (B) an assessment of how the YMELI program is 
                contributing to and promoting relations between the 
                United States and Negev Forum countries, particularly 
                in areas of increased private sector investment, trade 
                promotion, support to civil society, improved public 
                administration, and fostering entrepreneurship and 
                youth empowerment; and
                    (C) recommendations for improvements or changes to 
                the YMELI program, if any, that would improve the 
                ongoing effectiveness of the YMELI program.
            (2) Publication.--The Secretary of State shall publish the 
        report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) on a publicly 
        accessible website of the Department of State.
    (l) Eligible Young Leader Defined.--In this section, the term 
``eligible young leader'' means an individual who--
            (1) is between 18 and 35 years of age;
            (2) has demonstrated strong capabilities in 
        entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership; 
        and
            (3) has positively impacted a community, organization, or 
        institution.

SEC. 12. SUPPORTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE 
              AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) Educational Exchange.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Department of State for the Middle East Partnership Initiative 
$1,000,000 for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to support educational 
and cultural exchange programs to allow--
            (1) Israeli students to study in Abraham Accords countries, 
        Negev Forum countries, and key partners in regional integration 
        that maintain relations with Israel; and
            (2) students from such countries that maintain relations 
        with Israel to study in Israel.
    (b) People-to-People and Civil Society Engagement.--The Middle East 
Partnership Initiative may support grants and projects that seek to 
build better cooperation and understanding to foster the exchange of 
ideas among Israelis, Palestinians, and other citizens from Abraham 
Accords countries, Negev Forum countries, key partners in regional 
integration, and other regional actors.
    (c) Burden Sharing.--Assistance agreements entered into by the 
Secretary of State under this section may include provisions to promote 
cost-sharing with partners, as determined necessary and appropriate by 
the Secretary, as the case may be.

SEC. 13. STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS AND NEGEV 
              FORUM THROUGH INDUSTRIAL AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Israel-United States Binational Industrial Research and 
Development Foundation.--To facilitate multilateral cooperation between 
the United States, Israel, Abraham Accords countries, and Negev Forum 
countries, the Israel-United States Binational Industrial Research and 
Development Foundation, under the arrangement as entered into in 1977, 
may provide grants to initiatives that involve institutions from 
Abraham Accords countries and Negev Forum countries.
    (b) United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation.--
            (1) In general.--To facilitate multilateral cooperation 
        between the United States, Israel, and the Abraham Accords 
        countries and Negev Forum countries, the United States-Israel 
        Binational Science Foundation, under the arrangement as entered 
        into in 1972, may provide grants to initiatives that involve 
        scientists and researchers from Abraham Accords countries and 
        Negev Forum countries, consistent with the national security, 
        economic, and development interests of the United States.
            (2) Limitations.--The Foundation may not provide grants for 
        projects or initiatives that collaborate with or receive 
        funding from entities located in a country of concern, and 
        shall not engage in life sciences research of dual-use concern.
    (c) Country of Concern Defined.--In this section, the term 
``country of concern'' means any of the following:
            (1) The People's Republic of China.
            (2) The Russian Federation.
            (3) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
            (4) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
            (5) The Republic of Cuba.
            (6) The Syrian Arab Republic.

SEC. 14. BINATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND.

    (a) Section 1458(e) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(e)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``entered into'' and 
        inserting ``as entered into in 1977''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) when appropriate, facilitate the involvement 
                of Abraham Accords countries and Negev Forum countries 
                (as those terms are defined in the Regional Integration 
                and Normalization Act of 2023) in cooperative projects 
                with the United States and Israel that further economic 
                cooperation among the countries involved in such 
                projects, consistent with the national security, 
                economic, and development interests of the United 
                States.''.

SEC. 15. JOINT CYBERSECURITY TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION 
              SHARING.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States should--
            (1) build on the formal expansion of the Abraham Accords 
        and other regional integration fora, as appropriate, into 
        cybersecurity, which was announced by the Department of 
        Homeland Security on February 2, 2023; and
            (2) seek to increase collective cybersecurity and 
        resilience, address shared cybersecurity threats, and promote 
        normalization and regional integration efforts.
    (b) Training Activities.--The Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, and other relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, 
may engage in joint cybersecurity training activities and other 
information-sharing activities relating to cybersecurity, as 
appropriate, with Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum counties, and 
key partners in regional integration, including by encouraging 
participation by such countries in the National Cyber Exercise Program 
established under section 2220B of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 665h).
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains a 
        description of any potential benefits and impacts to the United 
        States of an annual tabletop cybersecurity exercise carried out 
        in conjunction with Abraham Accords countries and Negev Forum 
        countries.
            (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
        annex.
    (d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 16. LEVERAGING UNITED STATES ECONOMIC TOOLKIT TO SUPPORT REGIONAL 
              INTEGRATION AND NORMALIZATION EFFORTS.

    (a) Statement of Policy.-- It is the policy of the United States to 
promote regional integration and broader interconnectivity among the 
Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum countries, observers, key 
partners in regional integration, and other regional actors by 
promoting and supporting targeted investment in regional infrastructure 
and other critical sectors that broaden and deepen interconnectivity, 
increase economic growth and resilience, create benefits for citizens 
of Abraham Accords countries and Negev Forum countries, and advance the 
national security, economic, and development interests of the United 
States.
    (b) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees an interagency strategy to use the 
economic tools of the Federal Government to promote regional 
integration through targeted investment as described in subsection (a).

SEC. 17. COOPERATIVE PROJECTS AMONG THE UNITED STATES, ISRAEL, AND 
              ABRAHAM ACCORDS COUNTRIES AND NEGEV FORUM COUNTRIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 106(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151d(e)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) There is authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028 to finance cooperative projects among the 
United States, Israel, and Abraham Accords countries, Negev Forum 
countries, and key partners in regional integration (as those terms are 
defined in the Regional Integration and Normalization Act of 2023) that 
identify and support local solutions that address sustainability 
challenges relating to water resources, agriculture, and energy 
storage, including for the following activities:
            ``(1) Establishing public-private partnerships.
            ``(2) Supporting the identification, research, development 
        testing, and scaling of innovations that focus on populations 
        that are vulnerable to environmental and resource-scarcity 
        crises, such as subsistence farming communities.
            ``(3) Seed or transition-to-scale funding.
            ``(4) Clear and appropriate marking, branding, and 
        marketing of United States-funded assistance.
            ``(5) Accelerating demonstration or application of local 
        solutions to sustainability challenges, or the further 
        refinement, testing, or implementation of innovations that have 
        previously effectively addressed sustainability challenges.''.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
        coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency 
        for International Development shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a report on the feasibility and 
        advisability of expanding to Abraham Accords countries, Negev 
        Forum countries, and key partners in regional integration the 
        projects described in section 106(e) of the Foreign Assistance 
        Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151d(e)), as amended by subsection (a), 
        including projects involving multilateral cooperation among the 
        United States, Israel, and Negev Forum countries, observers, 
        and key partners in regional integration to promote development 
        in Africa.
            (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
        annex.

SEC. 18. SUPPORTING STRUCTURES THAT EXPAND COOPERATION ACROSS REGIONS 
              IN KEY AREAS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States has a strategic interest in fostering 
        cross-regional cooperation and economic integration between 
        partners in the Indo-Pacific region and partners in the Middle 
        East and North Africa.
            (2) Consistent with the strategic interest described in 
        paragraph (1), the regional grouping known as the I2U2 
        comprising the governments of India, Israel, the United Arab 
        Emirates, and the United States was formally established in 
        October 2021.
            (3) The I2U2 aligns like-minded countries in the Indo-
        Pacific region and the Middle East and North Africa on key 
        mutual areas of cooperation, including water, energy, 
        transportation, space, health, and food security.
            (4) The I2U2 complements other multilateral initiatives, 
        including the Abraham Accords and the Negev Forum, by bringing 
        together Israel and regional partners to address regional 
        challenges and advance economic integration.
            (5) By convening 4 major economies with advanced technology 
        sectors, the I2U2 provides a forum to increase cooperation on 
        the development and deployment of advanced energy technologies 
        and promote energy security.
            (6) In May 2023, senior officials from the United States, 
        the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and 
        India met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss cross-regional 
        infrastructure development, rail transportation, and 
        connectivity.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States should--
                    (A) build on the initiatives outlined at the 
                inaugural I2U2 leaders' summit on July 14, 2022, to 
                address food security and energy security needs in 
                North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia;
                    (B) work through the I2U2 framework to promote 
                resilience in the Indo-Pacific region to bolster energy 
                security;
                    (C) encourage private sector investment and 
                business-to-business cooperation through initiatives 
                like the I2U2 Business Forum;
                    (D) encourage academic cooperation and exchanges 
                among scholars working in India, the United Arab 
                Emirates, and Israel to develop advanced energy 
                technologies; and
                    (E) encourage further regional initiatives, such as 
                Project Prosperity, to promote regional integration and 
                resilience in the face of increasing water and energy 
                shortages; and
            (2) the Secretary of State should--
                    (A) explore additional areas of cooperation between 
                United States partners in the Middle East and North 
                Africa and United States partners in the Indo-Pacific 
                region to broaden strategic alignment across a range of 
                important security, economic, and other issues; and
                    (B) consider expansion of the I2U2 to include other 
                key partners in regional integration, including Saudi 
                Arabia.
                                 <all>