[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.
____________________