[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 82 (Tuesday, May 24, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S3117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4127. Mr. RUBIO submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2017 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 1277. REPORT ON MAINTENANCE BY ISRAEL OF A ROBUST
INDEPENDENT CAPABILITY TO REMOVE EXISTENTIAL
SECURITY THREATS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation
Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) established the policy
of the United States to support the inherent right of Israel
to self-defense.
(2) The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation
Act of 2012 expresses the sense of Congress that the
Government of the United States should transfer to the
Government of Israel defense articles and defense services.
(3) The inherent right of Israel to self-defense
necessarily includes the ability to defend against threats to
its security and defend its vital national interests.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
air refueling tankers and advanced bunker-buster munitions
should immediately be transferred to Israel to ensure our
democratic ally has an independent capability to remove any
existential threat posed by the Iranian nuclear program and
defend its vital national interests.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for
a period not to exceed four years, the President shall submit
to the specified congressional committees a report that--
(A) identifies all long range defensive capabilities and
platforms that would contribute significantly to the
maintenance by Israel of a robust independent capability to
remove existential security threats, including nuclear and
ballistic missile facilities in Iran, and defend its vital
national interests;
(B) assesses the availability for sale or transfer of items
necessary for Israel to maintain the capability described in
subparagraph (A), including the legal authorities available
for making such transfers; and
(C) describes the steps the President is taking to
immediately transfer the items described in subparagraph (B)
for Israel to maintain the capability described in
subparagraph (A).
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified
annex if necessary.
(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``specified
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the congressional defense committees; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
______