[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S7842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. LIEBERMAN):
  S. 2635. A bill to establish an intergovernmental grant program to 
identify and develop homeland security information, equipment, 
capabilities, technologies, and services to further the homeland 
security needs of Federal, State, and local governments; to the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, the United States and Israel share a 
strong and enduring friendship. We also share the threat of terrorist 
attacks against our citizens. Yet, while terrorism within our borders 
is relatively new to us, Israelis have confronted this danger for 
decades. Israel's long history of fighting terrorism has spurred 
Israeli businesses, researchers and academics to develop highly 
sophisticated homeland security technologies, particularly in the 
fields of border integrity, transportation security, and first 
responder equipment. As the United States pursues new approaches to 
protecting our Nation, it only makes sense to look to Israel's 
extensive expertise in this area.
  This is why I am introducing legislation with Senator Lieberman to 
establish a program to provide funds to eligible joint ventures between 
American firms and businesses in countries such as Israel that are 
already highly focused on the homeland security issue and have 
demonstrated the capacity for fruitful cooperation with America in the 
area of counterterrorism.
  This program will act as a revolving fund to develop new homeland 
security technologies. As these technologies are deployed and become 
profitable, the businesses that developed them will be required to 
repay the program for the amount of the funds. This requirement, which 
has worked for similar existing programs, will help sustain the 
availability of funds for future funds.
  The program will be managed by the Department of Homeland Security. 
It will dedicate $25 million toward these joint ventures that develop, 
manufacture, sell, or otherwise provide products and services with 
applications related to homeland security.
  This legislation will build upon a number of other highly successful 
public-private partnerships between businesses in the United States and 
those located in countries such as Israel. Since its founding in 1977, 
the Bi-National Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD) 
has created numerous research and development partnerships between 
American and Israeli businesses. The BIRD Foundation has invested $180 
million in 600 projects during the past 27 years. Similar partnerships 
also exist in the development of agricultural, defense, 
telecommunications, and other technologies. This record demonstrates 
the potential of a similar binational foundation in the area of 
homeland security.
  As recent international events have demonstrated, the fight against 
terrorism knows no borders. This legislation will enable our Nation to 
deploy the highest quality and most innovative tools to improve our 
homeland security. I ask you to join me in supporting this effort to 
enhance our Nation's fight against terrorism.

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