[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 100 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4779-S4780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENHANCED SECURITY COOPERATION ACT OF 2012

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 437, S. 2165.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2165) to enhance strategic cooperation between 
     the United States and Israel, and for other purposes.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported 
from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with an amendment to strike 
all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Israel 
     Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Since 1948, United States Presidents and both houses of 
     Congress, on a bipartisan basis and supported by the American 
     people, have repeatedly reaffirmed the special bond between 
     the United States and Israel, based on shared values and 
     shared interests.
       (2) The Middle East is undergoing rapid change, bringing 
     with it hope for an expansion of democracy but also great 
     challenges to the national security of the United States and 
     our allies in the region, particularly to our most important 
     ally in the region, Israel.
       (3) The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is 
     continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking to foment 
     instability and promote extremism in the Middle East, 
     particularly in this time of dramatic political transition.
       (4) At the same time, the Government of the Islamic 
     Republic of Iran continues to enrich uranium in defiance of 
     multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
       (5) A nuclear-weapons capable Iran would fundamentally 
     threaten vital United States interests, encourage regional 
     nuclear proliferation, further empower Iran, the world's 
     leading state sponsor of terror, and pose a serious and 
     destabilizing threat to Israel and the region.
       (6) Over the past several years, with the assistance of the 
     Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria, 
     Hizbollah and Hamas have increased their stockpile of 
     rockets, with more than 60,000 now ready to be fired at 
     Israel. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran 
     continues to add to its arsenal of ballistic missiles and 
     cruise missiles, which threaten Iran's neighbors, Israel, and 
     United States Armed Forces in the region.
       (7) As a result, Israel is facing a fundamentally altered 
     strategic environment.
       (8) Pursuant to chapter 5 of title 1 of the Emergency 
     Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 
     108-11; 117 Stat. 576), the authority to make available loan 
     guarantees to Israel is currently set to expire on September 
     30, 2012.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States:
       (1) To reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the security 
     of the State of Israel as a Jewish state. As President Barack 
     Obama stated on December 16, 2011, ``America's commitment and 
     my commitment to Israel and Israel's security is 
     unshakeable.'' And as President George W. Bush stated before 
     the Israeli Knesset on May 15, 2008, on the 60th anniversary 
     of the founding of the State of Israel, ``The alliance 
     between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our 
     friendship runs deeper than any treaty.''.
       (2) To help the Government of Israel preserve its 
     qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional 
     political transformation.
       (3) To veto any one-sided anti-Israel resolutions at the 
     United Nations Security Council.
       (4) To support Israel's inherent right to self-defense.
       (5) To pursue avenues to expand cooperation with the 
     Government of Israel both in defense and across the spectrum 
     of civilian sectors, including high technology, agriculture, 
     medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
       (6) To assist the Government of Israel with its ongoing 
     efforts to forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the 
     Israeli-Palestinian conflict that results in two states 
     living side-by-side in peace and security, and to encourage 
     Israel's neighbors to recognize Israel's right to exist as a 
     Jewish state.
       (7) To encourage further development of advanced technology 
     programs between the United States and Israel given current 
     trends and instability in the region.

     SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF 
                   ISRAEL AND PROTECT UNITED STATES INTERESTS.

       It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
     Government should take the following actions to assist in the 
     defense of Israel:
       (1) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the Governments of 
     the United States and Israel to address emerging common 
     threats, increase security cooperation, and expand joint 
     military exercises.
       (2) Provide the Government of Israel such support as may be 
     necessary to increase development and production of joint 
     missile defense systems, particularly such systems that 
     defend against the urgent threat posed to Israel and United 
     States forces in the region.
       (3) Provide the Government of Israel assistance 
     specifically for the production and procurement of the Iron 
     Dome defense system for purposes of intercepting short-range 
     missiles, rockets, and projectiles launched against Israel.
       (4) Provide the Government of Israel defense articles and 
     defense services through such mechanisms as appropriate, to 
     include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, 
     and specialized munitions.
       (5) Provide the Government of Israel additional excess 
     defense articles, as appropriate, in the wake of the 
     withdrawal of United States forces from Iraq.
       (6) Examine ways to strengthen existing and ongoing 
     efforts, including the Gaza Counter Arms Smuggling 
     Initiative, aimed at preventing weapons smuggling into Gaza 
     pursuant to the 2009 agreement following the Israeli 
     withdrawal from Gaza, as well as measures to protect against 
     weapons smuggling and terrorist threats from the Sinai 
     Peninsula.
       (7) Offer the Air Force of Israel additional training and 
     exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for 
     Israel's limited air space.
       (8) Work to encourage an expanded role for Israel with the 
     North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an 
     enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
       (9) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, 
     including satellite intelligence, with Israel.

     SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL STEPS TO DEFEND ISRAEL AND PROTECT 
                   AMERICAN INTERESTS.

       (a) Extension of War Reserves Stockpile Authority.--
       (1) Department of defense appropriations act, 2005.--
     Section 12001(d) of the Department of

[[Page S4780]]

     Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287; 118 
     Stat. 1011) is amended by striking ``more than 8 years 
     after'' and inserting ``more than 10 years after''.
       (2) Foreign assistance act of 1961.--Section 514(b)(2)(A) 
     of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2321h(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2011 
     and 2012'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2013 and 2014''.
       (b) Extension of Loan Guarantees to Israel.--Chapter 5 of 
     title I of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations 
     Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-11; 117 Stat. 576) is amended under 
     the heading ``Loan Guarantees to Israel''--
       (1) in the matter preceding the first proviso, by striking 
     ``September 30, 2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; 
     and
       (2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30, 
     2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.

     SEC. 6. REPORTS REQUIRED.

       (a) Report on Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME).--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President 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 status of Israel's qualitative military edge 
     in light of current trends and instability in the region.
       (2) Substitution for quadrennial report.--If submitted 
     within one year of the date that the first quadrennial report 
     required by section 201(c)(2) of the Naval Vessel Transfer 
     Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-429; 22 U.S.C. 2776 note) is due 
     to be submitted, the report required by paragraph (1) may 
     substitute for such quadrennial report.
       (b) Reports on Other Matters.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report on each of the following matters:
       (1) Taking into account the Government of Israel's urgent 
     requirement for F-35 aircraft, actions to improve the process 
     relating to its purchase of F-35 aircraft, particularly with 
     respect to cost efficiency and timely delivery.
       (2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States 
     and Israel in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime 
     security, energy, cyber-security, and other related areas.
       (3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the 
     Eastern Mediterranean.

     SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed 
     Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed 
     Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent 
     Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) Qualitative military edge.--The term ``qualitative 
     military edge'' has the meaning given the term in section 
     36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
     2776(h)(2)).

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I further ask that the committee-reported 
substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read 
the third time; and that the Senate proceed to a voice vote on passage 
of the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading 
and was read the third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the 
question is, Shall it pass?
  The bill (S. 2165), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate 
and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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