[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 76 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3912-H3913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORTING ROBUST RELATIONS WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL BILATERALLY AND IN 
           MULTILATERAL FORA UPON SEVENTY YEARS OF STATEHOOD

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further 
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 835) supporting robust 
relations with the State of Israel bilaterally and in multilateral fora 
upon seventy years of statehood, and for other purposes, and ask for 
its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 835

       Whereas May 14, 2018, marks the 70th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the State of Israel;
       Whereas May 11, 2018, marks the 69th anniversary of 
     Israel's membership in the United Nations;
       Whereas on May 14, 1948, the United States officially 
     recognized Israel as a state;
       Whereas Israel offers invaluable contributions to the 
     international community, including to the fields of start-up 
     economies, entrepreneurship, cyber security, military 
     weaponry, counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering, airport 
     security, agriculture, water management, arid-zone farming, 
     medical advances, natural gas, and other technologies;
       Whereas in 2000, with the support of the United States 
     Government, Israel was accepted into the Western European and 
     Others Group (WEOG) at the United Nations headquarters in New 
     York, and its membership became permanent in 2004;
       Whereas in 2013 Israel also became a member of WEOG at the 
     United Nations bodies in Geneva;
       Whereas WEOG membership made possible the election for 
     2016-17 of Israel's Ambassador as the chair of the Sixth 
     (Legal) Committee of the General Assembly, and in 2017, 
     Israel's election to the Executive Board of the United 
     Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of 
     Women (UN Women);
       Whereas in May 2017, Israel was elected as one of the Vice-
     Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly;
       Whereas robust bilateral ties with Israel maximizes 
     security, economic, and cultural benefits in the region, 
     increases regional stability and builds confidence with 
     respect to peace negotiations;
       Whereas Israel maintains diplomatic relations with 158 
     nations and retains 79 resident embassies, 22 consulates 
     general, and 6 special missions globally;
       Whereas Israel maintains free trade agreements with the 
     United States, members of the European Union, members of the 
     European Free Trade Association, Canada, Turkey, the Czech 
     Republic, the Republic of Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Mexico, 
     Romania, Bulgaria, and Jordan;
       Whereas in 1989, the United States Government designated 
     Israel as a major non-NATO ally;
       Whereas in 2014, the United States Government designated 
     Israel as a ``major strategic partner'';
       Whereas the United States and Israel have signed three 10-
     year memoranda of understanding, in which the United States 
     committed to provide $26,700,000,000 between fiscal year 1999 
     and fiscal year 2008, $30,000,000,000 between fiscal year 
     2009 and fiscal year 2018, and $38,000,000,000 between fiscal 
     year 2019 and fiscal year 2028;
       Whereas Congress has appropriated amounts in accordance 
     with such memoranda of understanding, reflecting the two 
     countries' shared priorities in the region and the strength 
     of United States support for maintaining Israel's qualitative 
     military edge; and
       Whereas Israel's involvement as an active member of the 
     community of nations benefits both Israel and the United 
     States, and allies who share common values and promote 
     democratic stability throughout the world: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) celebrates the 70th anniversary of the establishment of 
     the State of Israel;
       (2) encourages equitable treatment of Israel in 
     international fora;
       (3) urges United Nations member states to support Israel's 
     candidacy for the United Nations Security Council;
       (4) encourages the diplomatic recognition of the state of 
     Israel and robust engagement with Israel from all United 
     States allies and from governments across the globe; and
       (5) reiterates its support for a negotiated settlement 
     leading to a sustainable two-state solution with the 
     democratic, Jewish

[[Page H3913]]

     state of Israel and a demilitarized, democratic Palestinian 
     state living side-by-side in peace and security.

              Amendment Offered by Mr. Royce of California

  Mr. ROYCE of California. I have an amendment to the text at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
     following:
       That the House of Representatives--
       (1) encourages equitable treatment of Israel in 
     international fora;
       (2) urges United Nations member states to support Israel's 
     future candidacy for the United Nations Security Council;
       (3) encourages the diplomatic recognition of the state of 
     Israel and robust engagement with Israel from all United 
     States allies and from governments across the globe; and
       (4) reiterates its support for a negotiated settlement 
     leading to a sustainable two-state solution with the 
     democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a demilitarized, 
     democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and 
     security.

  Mr. ROYCE of California (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask 
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.


      Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Royce of California

  Mr. ROYCE of California. I have an amendment to the preamble at the 
desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas May 14, 2018, marks the 70th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the State of Israel;
       Whereas May 11, 2018, marks the 69th anniversary of 
     Israel's membership in the United Nations;
       Whereas on May 14, 1948, the United States officially 
     recognized Israel as a state;
       Whereas Israel offers invaluable contributions to the 
     international community, including to the fields of start-up 
     economies, entrepreneurship, cyber security, military 
     weaponry, counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering, airport 
     security, agriculture, water management, arid-zone farming, 
     medical advances, natural gas, and other technologies;
       Whereas in 2000, with the support of the United States 
     Government, Israel was accepted into the Western European and 
     Others Group (WEOG) at the United Nations headquarters in New 
     York, and its membership became permanent in 2004;
       Whereas in 2013 Israel also became a member of WEOG at the 
     United Nations bodies in Geneva;
       Whereas WEOG membership made possible the election for 
     2016-17 of Israel's Ambassador as the chair of the Sixth 
     (Legal) Committee of the General Assembly, and in 2017, 
     Israel's election to the Executive Board of the United 
     Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of 
     Women (UN Women);
       Whereas in May 2017, Israel was elected as one of the Vice-
     Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly;
       Whereas robust bilateral ties with Israel maximizes 
     security, economic, and cultural benefits in the region, 
     increases regional stability and builds confidence with 
     respect to peace negotiations;
       Whereas Israel maintains diplomatic relations with 158 
     nations and retains 79 resident embassies, 22 consulates 
     general, and 6 special missions globally;
       Whereas Israel maintains free trade agreements with the 
     United States, members of the European Union, members of the 
     European Free Trade Association, Canada, Turkey, the Czech 
     Republic, the Republic of Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Mexico, 
     Romania, Bulgaria, and Jordan;
       Whereas Israel has been designated by the United States 
     Government as a major non-NATO ally;
       Whereas in 2014, the United States Government designated 
     Israel as a ``major strategic partner'';
       Whereas the United States and Israel have signed three 10-
     year memoranda of understanding, in which the United States 
     committed to provide $26,700,000,000 between fiscal year 1999 
     and fiscal year 2008, $30,000,000,000 between fiscal year 
     2009 and fiscal year 2018, and $38,000,000,000 between fiscal 
     year 2019 and fiscal year 2028;
       Whereas Congress has appropriated amounts in accordance 
     with such memoranda of understanding, reflecting the two 
     countries' shared priorities in the region and the strength 
     of United States support for maintaining Israel's qualitative 
     military edge; and
       Whereas Israel's involvement as an active member of the 
     community of nations benefits both Israel and the United 
     States, and allies who share common values and promote 
     democratic stability throughout the world: Now, therefore, be 
     it

  Mr. ROYCE of California (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask 
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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