[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 82 (Tuesday, May 24, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

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                               speech of

                          HON. SCOTT H. PETERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2016

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4909) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chair, Iran is a chief sponsor of international 
terrorism and regularly threatens to obliterate Israel, our most 
important ally in the region. Those who supported the agreement last 
year to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon understood that the 
JCPOA does not eliminate all of Iran's threats to the United States and 
our partners in the Middle East.
  My amendment would take further steps to support our allies in the 
region and crack down on Iranian aggression.
  By vocalizing our support for working with Israel, the Gulf 
Cooperation Council, Jordan, and Egypt to build an integrated missile 
defense system, we can build off of the success of Israel's existing 
missile defense network.
  I support the funding authorizations included in this year's defense 
budget that will continue to support Israel's missile defense program.
  Through a smart, targeted approach with our partners, we can continue 
to counter Iranian aggression and promote security. I urge my 
colleagues to support this amendment.

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