[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 12, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E367-E368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           REGARDING H.R. 938

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2014

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor of H.R. 938, the 
U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act. I want to thank Representatives 
Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch for their work on this important and broadly 
bipartisan bill.
  H.R. 938 will help strengthen the strategic partnership the U.S. 
shares with Israel in addition to helping Israel better meet the new 
security challenges it faces in the region. By enhancing cooperation 
between the U.S. and

[[Page E368]]

Israel in such areas as intelligence, trade and energy, H.R. 938 
continues our commitment to helping Israel maintain its qualitative 
military edge while creating opportunities for U.S. companies and 
educational institutions to benefit from the deepening academic and 
commercial ties that will arise as a result of the bill.
  H.R. 938 also addresses homeland security priorities shared by our 
two countries by encouraging our cooperation against cyber threats and 
by advocating for the participation of Israel in the Visa Waiver 
Program--when it has fully met the requirements of membership. 
Permitting Israel to join the Visa Waiver Program should help reduce 
paperwork and make travel easier for citizens of both our countries. 
Membership in the program carries with it the obligation of full 
reciprocity. To that end, as the process moves forward, the State 
Department must work with Israel to ensure that all Americans are 
treated fairly in the program without any discrimination based on 
ethnicity, religion or race.

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