[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3617-H3620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ROCKET AND MISSILE DEFENSE COOPERATION AND SUPPORT 
                                  ACT

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5327) to authorize assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome 
anti-missile defense system, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5327

       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 Rocket 
     and Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Jewish State of Israel, as a close and 
     indispensable ally of the United States, with whom the United 
     States enjoys mutually-beneficial military, intelligence, 
     homeland security, scientific, technological, and other 
     cooperation, deserves all necessary assistance to defend 
     itself and its citizens from the many threats that it 
     continues to face.
       (2) The State of Israel has been under grave threat and 
     frequent attack from missiles, rockets, and mortar shells 
     fired at Israeli civilian targets by militants from the 
     Foreign Terrorist Organization Hamas on its southern border 
     and by the Foreign Terrorist Organization Hezbollah on its 
     northern border, which have killed, wounded, or inflicted 
     psychological trauma on countless Israelis.
       (3) The United States remains committed to Israel's 
     qualitative military edge, including its advantage over non-
     state actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which boast 
     increasingly sophisticated and powerful weapons as a result 
     of support from Iran, Syria, and other state actors.
       (4) Regional stability and lasting peace between Israel and 
     the Palestinians requires that Israel can ensure the safety 
     of its population against rocket, missile, and other threats.
       (5) The United States can help to advance its own vital 
     national security interests and the cause of peace by 
     supporting Israel's ability to defend itself against rocket, 
     missile, and other threats.
       (6) The State of Israel announced in January 2010 the 
     successful testing of its Iron Dome Short Range Artillery 
     Rocket Defense System which is designed to intercept short-
     range rockets, missiles, and mortars launched by militants in 
     Gaza and southern Lebanon.
       (7) In the face of threats from its neighbors and non-state 
     actors, Israel historically has sought the means to defend 
     itself, by itself.
       (8) President Barack Obama has stated: ``Our commitment to 
     Israel's security is unshakable.''.
       (9) Vice President Joe Biden has stated: ``From my 
     experience, the one precondition for progress is that the 
     rest of the world knows this--there is no space between the 
     U.S. and Israel when it comes to security--none.''.
       (10) Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has stated: 
     ``President Obama has affirmed, the United States commitment 
     to Israel's security is unshakable, and our defense 
     relationship is stronger than ever, to the mutual benefit of 
     both nations.''.
       (11) President Obama recently requested funds to help the 
     State of Israel procure and maintain Iron Dome missile 
     batteries.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL FOR IRON DOME 
                   ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

       The President, acting through the Secretary of Defense and 
     the Secretary of State, is authorized to provide assistance 
     to the Government of Israel for the procurement, maintenance, 
     and sustainment of the Iron Dome Short Range Artillery Rocket 
     Defense System for purposes of intercepting short-range 
     rockets, missiles, and mortars launched against Israel.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McMahon) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  H.R. 5327, the United States-Israel Rocket and Missile Defense 
Cooperation and Support Act of which I am a proud original cosponsor, 
authorizes funds for the State of Israel to facilitate the deployment 
of the Iron Dome missile defense system. I would like to thank the 
distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Nye) for introducing this 
important legislation.
  Madam Speaker, as we all know, the residents of Israel are subject to 
the constant threat of terrorist attack--not just threat but actual 
attack. Israelis living in the southern city of Sderot have been 
terrorized by more than 8,000 indiscriminate rocket and mortar attacks 
on their homes, schools and communities. Passage of the U.S.-Israel 
Rocket and Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act today will help 
provide Israel with a reliable missile shield that could lead to a 
major strategic shift in Israel's approach to dealing with the 
persistent missile threat.
  For years, the primary tool that Israel has used to protect its 
citizens from Hamas and Hezbollah missile attacks is an early warning 
system that sets off sirens telling people to hurry into bomb shelters. 
This is a passive defense which aims to minimize fatalities among 
helpless, unprotected civilians. The deployment of the Iron Dome 
missile shield will give Israel the capability to provide active 
defense. This advanced system has the capability of knocking Qassams, 
Katyushas, mortars and other deadly projectiles out of the sky, 
rendering them harmless.
  President Obama's decision to provide the necessary funding to 
support Israel's deployment of the Iron Dome system demonstrates 
America's enduring commitment to Israel's enduring defense and the 
Obama administration's commitment to ensuring Israel's security. As 
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently said, ``President Obama has 
affirmed, the United States' commitment to Israel's security is 
unshakable, and our defense relationship is stronger than ever, to the 
mutual benefit of both nations.'' Madam Speaker, U.S.-Israeli 
cooperation on the Iron Dome system will help advance the cause of 
peace by supporting Israel's ability to defend herself against 
terrorist attacks. This will give Israel the security it requires to 
live in peace and to make difficult sacrifices for peace. I believe 
defensive technologies like Iron Dome are a real-world necessity for 
Israel as it moves from proximity talks to direct talks and eventually 
to a final two-state solution.
  Madam Speaker, the United States and our ally Israel share many of 
the

[[Page H3618]]

same security challenges, from combating terrorism to confronting the 
threat posed by Iran's nuclear weapons program. President Obama and the 
Democrats in Congress recognize the threat posed by Hamas and Hezbollah 
to Israel, and we will continue to do what is necessary to keep Israel 
safe and promote the cause of peace, but we cannot have peace until 
Israel is safe. Today we stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of 
Israel in their quest for peace and the right to live lives free of 
terrorism. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yea'' on this 
important legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  One of the foundations of America's national security policy is and 
must remain our deep alliance and our friendship with the democratic, 
Jewish State of Israel. We not only share our deepest values with 
Israel, but we also enjoy close, mutually beneficial, bilateral 
cooperation in many fields, including defense, intelligence, homeland 
security, science, technology and education. And as many have noted, 
Israel is a stabilizing force, and our alliance with Israel is a force 
multiplier in a region of great strategic importance to not only Israel 
but the United States.
  In short, the United States' support for Israel advances our own 
security interests. But every day the threat to the democratic, Jewish 
State of Israel grows and continues to grow. As the Iranian regime 
draws closer to obtaining the capabilities for nuclear weapons and the 
missiles to deliver them, as that same regime sponsors Hezbollah, Hamas 
and other foreign terrorist organizations, and as the Syrian regime 
follows in its footsteps in these regards, the goal is very simple: To 
destroy Israel and the Jewish people, with the United States next.
  Madam Speaker, the little fellow from the desert, Ahmadinejad, has 
denied the Holocaust. He has compared Israel to a ``germ,'' threatened 
to ``wipe Israel off the map,'' and has spoken of his goal of ``a world 
without America and Zionism.'' The dictator of Syria has threatened 
Israel with ``violent resistance.'' Hamas' covenant calls for killing 
Jews and destroying the nation of Israel. Hezbollah's leader has 
reportedly stated that ``If the Jews all gather in Israel, it will save 
us the trouble of going after them worldwide.''

                              {time}  1530

  Madam Speaker, we should take these threats from Syria, Iran, 
Hezbollah, and Hamas as serious threats to world stability, and 
specifically to the nation of Israel. They have backed up these threats 
with their evil deeds. For the last decade, thousands of rockets and 
mortars have been fired by Hezbollah from the north and Hamas to the 
south, sponsored by Iran and Syria with reported aid from the nation of 
North Korea. Since Israel's defense operations against Hezbollah in 
2006, Hezbollah has rapidly rearmed again, thanks to Syria and Iran and 
North Korea, and reports indicate they now have over 40,000 rockets 
aimed at Israel.
  Recent reports indicate that Syria is providing Hezbollah with long-
range missiles that could strike most of Israel, and that some of that 
weaponry was reportedly manufactured by those folks in North Korea. I 
would add incidentally that it doesn't help matters when senior 
administration officials say the United States should build up what 
they call more moderate elements of Hezbollah. There are no moderate 
elements of Hezbollah. Hezbollah is not a mainstream political party. 
They are a blood-thirsty terrorist group. But I digress, Madam Speaker.
  To Israel's south, Hamas and other violent militant groups in the 
Gaza area have fired thousands and thousands of rockets and mortars on 
civilian targets in southern Israel since 2000, killing, wounding and 
inflicting deep psychological trauma on Israeli citizens.
  Madam Speaker, I doubt if we would long put up with rockets coming 
from the north of our border and from the south of our border, but the 
Israelis have to put up with the terror from the north and the south on 
a constant basis. Since the conclusion of Israel's defensive operation 
in January 2009, the rockets and mortars have abated, but they have not 
stopped entirely. In fact, over 200 have been fired in the last 16 
months.
  To defend the Israeli people, the State of Israel is developing a 
multi-layered rocket and missile defense system. It is a defense 
system, not an offensive system. It is called the Iron Dome for short-
range threats, the David's Sling for medium- to long-range threats, and 
the Arrow for long-range ballistic missiles.
  But as we know, national security comes at a heavy cost. Israel has a 
higher ratio of defense spending to gross domestic product and spends 
more on defense as a percentage of its budget than any developed 
country. Israel should not bear these costs single-handedly.
  Madam Speaker, when Hamas and Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria, 
threaten Israel, they also are threatening us, and we need to respond 
accordingly. What we should do is stand with Israel just as Israel 
stands with us, and we should continue to provide Israel with the 
support it needs to defend itself by addressing and stopping the 
comprehensive threat posed not only by Hamas and Hezbollah, but their 
state sponsors, specifically Iran and Syria.
  That is why I strongly support H.R. 5327, the United States-Israel 
Rocket Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act, which authorizes 
the United States to support Israel with the procurement, maintenance, 
and sustainment of the Iron Dome system.
  I would like to thank my distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Nye) and the ranking member of our Foreign Affairs Committee, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), and Mr. Turner from Ohio 
for sponsoring this vital legislation. I urge my colleagues to pass 
this legislation and make the message clear: the United States will 
stand with Israel and our other allies, and we will stand against our 
mutual enemies, no matter the cost.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Nye).
  Mr. NYE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reaffirm and strengthen the 
U.S.-Israeli bond in mutual defense and security by introducing H.R. 
5327, the United States-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation and Support 
Act.
  The relationship between our countries is unlike any found in the 
world, and our friendship gives both Israel and the United States peace 
of mind in knowing that we will always support one another's security.
  A safe homeland begins abroad, and Israel has long been central to 
that security. For instance, it is because of Israel's strength and 
cooperation that the U.S. no longer has to constantly keep a carrier 
strike group in the Mediterranean, allowing us to use our forces more 
judiciously.
  I am proud to introduce this legislation which is supported by the 
President's recent decision to provide funding to support Israel's 
deployment of the Iron Dome missile defense system. The Iron Dome 
system will help protect Israeli citizens living in cities like Sderot 
who have been terrorized by over 8,000 indiscriminate rocket and mortar 
attacks on their homes, schools, and communities. The funds authorized 
by this bill will allow Israel to build two Iron Dome batteries which 
will be deployed in the southern and northern areas of the country as 
needed. Israeli defense officials estimate that Iron Dome could be 
deployed and functional this year.
  Lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians requires that 
Israel can ensure the safety of its population against missile threats. 
Therefore, U.S.-Israel cooperation on the Iron Dome system will help 
advance the cause of peace by supporting Israel's ability to defend 
itself against terrorist attacks. Cooperation on important technologies 
such as Iron Dome proves that the U.S.-Israeli security cooperation is 
stronger than ever and is also beneficial to both nations as we 
continue to collaborate to develop our most sensitive defense 
technologies.
  Congress stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel in their quest for 
peace and the right to live free from terrorism. This legislation is a 
tribute to America's commitment to Israel's defense and to the 
President's continued and expanding support for Israel's security.

[[Page H3619]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Nye).
  Mr. NYE. I would like to thank Chairman Berman, Ranking Member Ros-
Lehtinen, Ms. Giffords, Mr. McMahon, Mr. Himes, Mr. Ackerman, Ms. 
Kosmas, Mr. Bishop, and Mr. Turner for their support of this crucial 
legislation as original cosponsors, and I urge my colleagues to support 
this measure.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), a member of the Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the U.S.-Israel 
Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act.
  Too many Israeli families live under the daily threat of rocket 
attacks from Hezbollah and Hamas. President Obama's decision to provide 
$205 million in support of the Iron Dome rocket defense system will 
help Israel defend its citizens against these deadly terrorist attacks.
  I traveled to Israel last month, and I believe the status quo in the 
Middle East is unsustainable. Lasting peace between Israelis and 
Palestinians will only be possible if Israel can ensure the security of 
its population. And that is why U.S. support for defensive weapons 
systems like Iron Dome is so important. This legislation clearly 
demonstrates that the United States Congress and President Obama will 
not compromise when it comes to Israel's security. I am proud to 
support this legislation, and I want to thank its sponsors.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to Representative Moran 
from Virginia, a member of the Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill 
of which I am also a cosponsor.
  Last week, President Obama submitted a request to Congress to 
authorize funds for this important missile defense system which will 
shield Israeli civilians from indiscriminate short-range missile 
attacks. The bill is consistent with support of human rights for 
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and of efforts to enhance 
Israel's security and defense of her citizens from violent rocket and 
missile attacks.
  This reflects the role that the United States can play in saving 
lives on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and if we can 
save lives and promote a sustainable peace, then we must play that role 
from both a moral as well as a geopolitical motivation because when 
people feel secure, they think differently than when they feel under 
siege. Their priorities change. And this missile defense system could 
be a game changer. It deserves our support.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Rothman), a member of the Appropriations Committee and 
its Subcommittee on Defense.
  Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Staten Island, Congressman Nye, and Congressman Poe for your work on 
this important issue.
  Madam Speaker, why is it important for the United States to defend 
the national security of the State of Israel? Well, it is important 
because the national security of the State of Israel is critically 
important to the national security of the United States of America.
  How is that so? Well, we know first of all that the United States has 
been working with Israel and her technicians on improved missile 
defense technology. The Arrow missile system is a joint U.S.-Israel 
technological wonder that protects the United States and its forces 
around the world from incoming missilery from within zero to 600 miles. 
We know that the U.S. is working on a project with Israel called 
David's Sling, again a defensive system to protect U.S. forces and 
Israeli forces and people from rockets and mortars fired between 43 and 
150 miles.
  We are also working with the State of Israel, the United States is, 
on a very sophisticated anti-missile system called Arrow 3, which would 
allow us to defend against ICBMs fired as far as 1,200 miles away and 
get those missiles 1,200 miles away before they were over American soil 
or over our troops in the region or over our ally, the State of Israel.
  So the money that we invest in missile defense with the State of 
Israel and having our scientists working jointly together is in the 
vital national security interest of the United States and in the vital 
national security interest of the State of Israel which provides 
Americans so many benefits, not just the benefits of supporting a 
fellow democracy and a nation who our Founders referred to as people 
deserving of the right to return to their natural homeland.
  Israel has a strategic importance to the United States as well. It is 
located on the Mediterranean. It is located near the Red Sea. It is a 
bad neighborhood. A lot of the actors who would want to hurt Americans 
around the world and on U.S. soil are inspired, if not financed, from 
that region.
  Israel has one of the world's greatest intelligence services. We 
Americans get day-to-day updates from that intelligence service which 
benefit us in our fight against terrorists who are trying to kill 
Americans around the world and on American soil.
  And of course the money that we give Israel for its military 
acquisitions, 70 percent of the money is required to buy American-made 
munitions; American made.
  Those are just some of the reasons. U.S. generals want Israel to have 
a missile defense system that will be able to be used to protect U.S. 
troops in the region as well as our ally, the State of Israel.
  Also, as one of my colleagues mentioned earlier, we increase the 
chance for peace if potential adversaries know not only that we have a 
strong offensive power, but that we have a strong defense. So if they 
know that whatever they shoot at us won't land, won't blow up on us, 
and that we will then respond with overwhelming power and they haven't 
laid a glove on us, so to speak, then they will be deterred. They will 
say, gee, if I throw everything at them and it won't work because they 
are protected by this anti-missile system, and they will respond 
overwhelmingly, why the heck should we fire at them in the first place.
  That is why a missile defense system for the United States has been 
so important. That's why a missile defense system for our number one 
strategic military ally in the region, the Jewish State of Israel, is 
so important for the United States. It will help protect Israel. It 
will help protect American troops in the region, and it will help 
reduce the chances of war if those who want to destroy Israel know 
Israel can survive an attack and then be ready with its own offensive 
response.
  I thank the gentleman for offering this bill, and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support it as well.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), chairwoman of the Legislative Branch 
Subcommittee on Appropriations.

                              {time}  1545

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
5327, the United States-Israel Rocket and Missile Defense Cooperation 
and Support Act. As a staunch supporter of the Jewish State of Israel, 
it gives me great pride to be a cosponsor of this resolution, which 
will provide Israel with the funding it needs to maintain the safety 
and security of her citizens.
  By authorizing funds requested by President Obama for Israel's Iron 
Dome defense system, Congress and President Obama's message to the 
people of Israel is loud and clear: Our commitment to Israel's security 
is unshakable. And, through this funding that will help Israel produce 
and maintain an effective defense against short-range missiles, 
rockets, and mortars such as those used by Hamas and Hezbollah, we are 
backing up our words with action.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on helping to maintain Israel's 
qualitative military edge and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5327. And I commend 
my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia

[[Page H3620]]

(Mr. Nye) for his leadership on this very important issue.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Nadler), the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on 
the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  Mr. NADLER of New York. Madam Speaker, we all hope for a peace 
agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians. Such an 
agreement, providing for adequate security safeguards for Israel, would 
benefit the citizens of Israel and would benefit the Palestinians. It 
would also help stabilize the Middle East and would inure to the 
national security interests of the United States.
  Every American administration for the last 40 years has recognized 
that prerequisite to the successful conclusion of any peace agreement 
is the maintenance of Israel's qualitative military superiority over 
any potential combination of state and nonstate aggressors. In recent 
years, unfortunately, we have permitted Israel's military superiority 
to lag, to begin to fall down.
  I want to congratulate the administration, the Obama administration 
for recognizing this and, in the last year and a half, sharply stepping 
up U.S. military assistance and U.S. military cooperation with Israel.
  Now we also face the threat from Iran and the threat of 40,000 
rockets and missiles supplied by the Iranians in Lebanon in the 
possession of Hezbollah, which has said that it wants to kill every 
Jew. It would be nice if all the Jews moved to Israel so they could 
kill them with one swoop. And this accumulation of 40,000 rockets has 
been done in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which 
has not been enforced. So, hence, this bill.
  This bill, which comes to us from the administration, to provide 200-
and-some-odd million dollars for the Iron Dome antimissile system is 
another step in maintaining Israel's military superiority and in 
protecting Israel's citizens against possibly unprovoked aggression and 
is an absolute prerequisite if we hope to see any peaceful settlement 
in the Middle East.
  I, therefore, congratulate the administration on taking this step and 
on the steps it has made to maintain Israel's military superiority. I 
thank the sponsors, and I urge the passage of this bill.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, the State of Israel, the nation of Israel, is not a 
big place. It's a little, bitty country. It's smaller than the State of 
New Jersey. From north to south, at the longest point, it's 200 miles. 
East to west, it's 75 miles. And ever since their existence, nations 
all around them have been wanting to destroy the nation of Israel.
  Let there be no mistake about it, Madam Speaker. Israel is our ally. 
Israel has the absolute right of self-defense, to protect the dignity 
of its country and to protect its citizens. That is the first duty of 
every government and of every nation. This resolution helps Israel 
protect itself and its citizens.
  Israel has the absolute right to exist. And it should be known to the 
world that we will stand with Israel to make sure they have the right 
to exist. Israel is saying to Hezbollah and Hamas, Syria, Iran, and 
even North Korea, Leave us alone. That is the right that Israel has, to 
be left alone in that region.
  This resolution also says, Madam Speaker, and reaffirms a statement 
made 50 years ago by President John F. Kennedy when he made the comment 
in his inaugural address, and I quote, ``Let every nation know, whether 
it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, 
meet any hardship, support any friend and oppose any foe to assure the 
survival and the success of liberty. This we pledge and much more.''
  This resolution, Madam Speaker, reaffirms that commitment by 
President Kennedy over 50 years ago.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I shall 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I join in agreement with all the speakers who have 
spoken on this resolution, the importance of America's continuing 
friendship, support, and solidarity with the people of Israel.
  Many speak about how this is an issue that is so important for 
America's national security, and that is true. I'm a New Yorker. You 
may have noticed that. I know with my accent I didn't have to say it. 
But I was also in New York on September 11, and like so many New 
Yorkers, we saw firsthand the threat of terrorism right at our 
doorstep; not just the threat, but the reality. And it's that threat 
and that reality that the people of Israel live with every day. They 
are on the front line. So, yes, it is in our national interest.
  But it also speaks to the very morality and soul of our Nation that 
we stand by our friend, that we stand by our colleague in this world 
battle, and that is the nation of Israel. And so this bill is just one 
more step in that statement. It is important for America to do it 
because, if we didn't, then we would no longer be America.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, the security of our ally Israel 
is threatened by the proliferation of rockets its enemies possess along 
its borders. In both the south and the north, millions of Israelis live 
within range of Hamas and Hizballah rockets.
  In the last decade, more than 16,000 rockets and mortars have been 
launched over Gaza and Lebanese borders into Israel. These attacks have 
targeted and killed innocent civilians.
  With the backing and support of Iran and Syria, Hizballah now has an 
arsenal of more than 42,000 short- and long-range rockets, which are 
aimed at Israel. This number of rockets is more than three times larger 
than what Hizballah had prior to the 2006 war with Israel. U.S. 
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has warned that Hizballah's ``arsenal 
of rockets and missiles now dwarfs the inventory of many nation-
states.''
  The ability of Hamas and Hizballah to launch attacks on Israeli 
civilians is a threat to Israel's security that must be countered. To 
protect its people, Israel developed Iron Dome, a short-range rocket 
defense system that will protect civilians living near Israel's border. 
H.R. 5327, the United States-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation and 
Support Act, authorizes U.S. assistance to help Israel speed up 
production and deployment of this rocket defense system so that more 
Israelis are protected from the indiscriminate attacks of its enemies.
  But this legislation does more than improve Israeli security; it also 
enhances the security of the U.S. The missile defense technology being 
developed in cooperation with the U.S. will help us better defend 
ourselves, and may one day help protect U.S. military bases in the 
Middle East.
  I support the legislation before us and urge my colleagues to vote in 
favor of this legislation that will help Israel maintain its 
qualitative military edge.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, at this time I have no further requests 
for time, and therefore, I yield the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. McMahon) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5327, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________