[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 130 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5567-S5572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   UNITED STATES-ISRAEL SECURITY ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018

  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 519, S. 2497.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2497) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 and the Arms Export Control Act to make improvements to 
     certain defense and security assistance provisions and to 
     authorize the appropriations of funds to Israel, and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United 
     States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 
     2018''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Appropriate congressional committees defined.

                TITLE I--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL

Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Statement of policy regarding Israel's defense systems.
Sec. 103. Assistance for Israel.
Sec. 104. Extension of war reserves stockpile authority.
Sec. 105. Extension of loan guarantees to Israel.
Sec. 106. Joint assessment of quantity of precision guided munitions 
              for use by Israel.
Sec. 107. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel.
Sec. 108. Modification of rapid acquisition and deployment procedures.
Sec. 109. Eligibility of Israel for the strategic trade authorization 
              exception to certain export control licensing 
              requirements.

          TITLE II--ENHANCED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION

Sec. 201. United States-Israel space cooperation.
Sec. 202. United States Agency for International Development-Israel 
              enhanced partnership for development cooperation in 
              developing nations.
Sec. 203. Authority to enter into a cooperative project agreement with 
              Israel to counter unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten 
              the United States or Israel.

         TITLE III--ENSURING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE

Sec. 301. Statement of policy.

     SEC. 2. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

       In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional 
     committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

                TITLE I--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL

     SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In February 1987, the United States granted Israel 
     major non-NATO ally status.
       (2) On August 16, 2007, the United States and Israel signed 
     a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding on United States 
     military assistance to

[[Page S5568]]

     Israel. The total assistance over the course of this 
     understanding would equal $30,000,000,000.
       (3) On July 27, 2012, the United States-Israel Enhanced 
     Security Cooperation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-150; 22 
     U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) declared it to be the policy of the 
     United States ``to help the Government of Israel preserve its 
     qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional 
     political transformation'' and stated the sense of Congress 
     that the United States Government should ``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''.
       (4) On December 19, 2014, President Barack Obama signed 
     into law the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act 
     of 2014 (Public Law 113-296) which stated the sense of 
     Congress that Israel is a major strategic partner of the 
     United States and declared it to be the policy of the United 
     States ``to continue to provide Israel with robust security 
     assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome 
     Missile Defense System''.
       (5) Section 1679 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92; 129 Stat. 1135) 
     authorized funds to be appropriated for Israeli cooperative 
     missile defense program codevelopment and coproduction, 
     including funds to be provided to the Government of Israel to 
     procure the David's Sling weapon system as well as the Arrow 
     3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program.
       (6) On September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel 
     signed a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming the 
     importance of continuing annual United States military 
     assistance to Israel and cooperative missile defense programs 
     in a way that enhances Israel's security and strengthens the 
     bilateral relationship between the two countries.
       (7) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflected United 
     States support of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant 
     assistance to Israel over the ten year period beginning in 
     fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028. FMF grant 
     assistance would be at a level of $3,300,000,000 annually, 
     totaling $33,000,000,000, the largest single pledge of 
     military assistance ever and a reiteration of the seven-
     decade, unshakeable, bipartisan commitment of the United 
     States to Israel's security.
       (8) The Memorandum of Understanding also reflected United 
     States support for funding for cooperative programs to 
     develop, produce, and procure missile, rocket, and projectile 
     defense capabilities over a ten year period beginning in 
     fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028 at a level of 
     $500,000,000 per year, totaling $5,000,000,000.

     SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING ISRAEL'S DEFENSE 
                   SYSTEMS.

       It shall be the policy of the United States to provide 
     assistance to the Government of Israel in order to support 
     funding for cooperative programs to develop, produce, and 
     procure missile, rocket, projectile, and other defense 
     capabilities to help Israel meet its security needs and to 
     help develop and enhance United States defense capabilities.

     SEC. 103. ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Israel.--Section 
     513(c) of the Security Assistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 
     106-280; 114 Stat. 856) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2002 and 2003'' and 
     inserting ``2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 
     2027, and 2028'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``equal to--'' and inserting ``not less 
     than $3,300,000,000.''; and
       (B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B).

     SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.

       (a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005.--
     Section 12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations 
     Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended by 
     striking ``after September 30, 2018'' and inserting ``after 
     September 30, 2023''.
       (b) 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 ``2013, 2014, 2015, 
     2016, 2017, and 2018'' and inserting ``2018, 2019, 2020, 
     2021, 2022, and 2023.''.

     SEC. 105. 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, 2019'' and inserting ``September 30, 2023''; 
     and
       (2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30, 
     2019'' and inserting ``September 30, 2023''.

     SEC. 106. JOINT ASSESSMENT OF QUANTITY OF PRECISION GUIDED 
                   MUNITIONS FOR USE BY ISRAEL.

       (a) In General.--The President, acting through the 
     Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is 
     authorized to conduct a joint assessment with the Government 
     of Israel with respect to the matters described in subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Matters Described.--The matters described in this 
     subsection are the following:
       (1) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions 
     that are necessary for Israel to combat Hezbollah in the 
     event of a sustained armed confrontation between Israel and 
     Hezbollah.
       (2) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions 
     that are necessary for Israel in the event of a sustained 
     armed confrontation with other armed groups and terrorist 
     organizations such as Hamas.
       (3) The resources the Government of Israel can plan to 
     dedicate to acquire such precision guided munitions.
       (4) United States plans to assist Israel to prepare for 
     sustained armed confrontations described in this subsection 
     as well as the ability of the United States to resupply 
     Israel with precision guided munitions in the event of 
     confrontations described in paragraphs (1) and (2), if any.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after the date on 
     which the joint assessment authorized under subsection (a) is 
     completed, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report that contains the joint 
     assessment.
       (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     annex.

     SEC. 107. TRANSFER OF PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS TO ISRAEL.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h), the President is 
     authorized to sell such quantities of precision guided 
     munitions from reserve stocks to Israel as necessary for 
     legitimate self-defense and otherwise consistent with the 
     purposes and conditions for such sales under the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.).
       (b) Certifications.--Except in case of emergency, not later 
     than 5 days before making a sale under this section, the 
     President shall certify in an unclassified notification to 
     the appropriate congressional committees that the sale of the 
     precision guided munitions--
       (1) does not affect the ability of the United States to 
     maintain a sufficient supply of precision guided munitions;
       (2) does not harm the combat readiness of the United States 
     or the ability of the United States to meet its commitment to 
     allies for the transfer of such munitions; and
       (3) is necessary for Israel to counter the threat of 
     rockets in a timely fashion.

     SEC. 108. MODIFICATION OF RAPID ACQUISITION AND DEPLOYMENT 
                   PROCEDURES.

       (a) Requirement to Establish Procedures.--
       (1) In general.--Section 806(a) of the Bob Stump National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (10 U.S.C. 
     2302 note; Public Law 107-314) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``; and'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) urgently needed to support production of precision 
     guided munitions--
       ``(A) for United States counterterrorism missions; or
       ``(B) to assist an ally of the United States under direct 
     missile threat from--
       ``(i) an organization the Secretary of State has designated 
     as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); or
       ``(ii) a country the government of which the Secretary of 
     State has determined, for purposes of section 6(j) of the 
     Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 4605(j)) (as in 
     effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
     Powers Act), section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371), section 40 of the Arms Export Control 
     Act (22 U.S.C. 2780), or any other provision of law, is a 
     government that has repeatedly provided support for acts of 
     international terrorism.''.
       (2) Prescription of procedures.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Defense shall prescribe procedures for the rapid acquisition 
     and deployment of supplies and associated support services 
     for purposes described in paragraph (3) of section 806(a) of 
     the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2003, as added by paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection.
       (b) Use of Amounts in Special Defense Acquisition Fund.--
     Section 114(c)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``or 
     to assist an ally of the United States that is under direct 
     missile threat, including from a terrorist organization 
     supported by Iran, and such threat adversely affects the 
     safety and security of such ally''.

     SEC. 109. ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAEL FOR THE STRATEGIC TRADE 
                   AUTHORIZATION EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN EXPORT 
                   CONTROL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Israel has adopted high standards in the field of 
     export controls.
       (2) Israel has declared its unilateral adherence to the 
     Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and 
     the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
       (3) Israel is a party to--
       (A) the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the 
     Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be 
     Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, 
     signed at Geneva October 10, 1980;
       (B) the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of 
     Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of 
     Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva June 17, 
     1925; and
       (C) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear 
     Material, adopted at Vienna October 26, 1979.
       (4) Section 6(b) of the United States-Israel Strategic 
     Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8603 note) directs the 
     President, consistent with the commitments of the United 
     States under international agreements, to take steps so that 
     Israel may be included in the list of countries eligible for 
     the strategic trade authorization exception under section 
     740.20(c)(1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, to the 
     requirement for a license for the export, reexport, or in-
     country transfer of an item subject to controls under the 
     Export Administration Regulations.

[[Page S5569]]

       (b) Report on Eligibility for Strategic Trade Authorization 
     Exception.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report that--
       (A) describes the steps taken to include Israel in the list 
     of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization 
     exception as required under 6(b) of the United States-Israel 
     Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8603 note; 
     Public Law 113-296); and
       (B) includes what steps are necessary for Israel to be 
     included in such a list of countries eligible for the 
     strategic trade authorization exception.
       (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     annex.

          TITLE II--ENHANCED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION

     SEC. 201. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL SPACE COOPERATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Authorized in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration (NASA) supports and coordinates United States 
     Government research in aeronautics, human exploration and 
     operations, science, and space technology.
       (2) Established in 1983, the Israel Space Agency (ISA) 
     supports the growth of Israel's space industry by supporting 
     academic research, technological innovation, and educational 
     activities.
       (3) The mutual interest of the United States and Israel in 
     space exploration affords both nations an opportunity to 
     leverage their unique abilities to advance scientific 
     discovery.
       (4) In 1996, NASA and the ISA entered into an agreement 
     outlining areas of mutual cooperation, which remained in 
     force until 2005.
       (5) Since 1996, NASA and the ISA have successfully 
     cooperated on many space programs supporting the Global 
     Positioning System and research related to the sun, earth 
     science, and the environment.
       (6) The bond between NASA and the ISA was permanently 
     forged on February 1, 2003, with the loss of the crew of STS-
     107, including Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon.
       (7) On October 13, 2015, the United States and Israel 
     signed the Framework Agreement between the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of 
     America and the Israel Space Agency for Cooperation in 
     Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer 
     Space for Peaceful Purposes.
       (b) Continuing Cooperation.--The Administrator of the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall continue 
     to work with the Israel Space Agency to identify and 
     cooperatively pursue peaceful space exploration and science 
     initiatives in areas of mutual interest, taking all 
     appropriate measures to protect sensitive information, 
     intellectual property, trade secrets, and economic interests 
     of the United States.

     SEC. 202. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT-
                   ISRAEL ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT 
                   COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.

       (a) Statement of Policy.--It should be the policy of the 
     United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to 
     partner with Israel in order to advance common goals across a 
     wide variety of sectors, including energy, agriculture and 
     food security, democracy, human rights and governance, 
     economic growth and trade, education, environment, global 
     health, and water and sanitation.
       (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development is 
     authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with 
     Israel in order to enhance coordination on advancing common 
     goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, 
     human rights and governance, economic growth and trade, 
     education, environment, global health, and water and 
     sanitation with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and 
     cooperation with nations throughout the world.

     SEC. 203. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE PROJECT 
                   AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL TO COUNTER UNMANNED 
                   AERIAL VEHICLES THAT THREATEN THE UNITED STATES 
                   OR ISRAEL.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On February 10, 2018, Iran launched from Syria an 
     unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly known as a ``drone'') that 
     penetrated Israeli airspace.
       (2) According to a press report, the unmanned aerial 
     vehicle was in Israeli airspace for a minute and a half 
     before being shot down by its air force.
       (3) Senior Israeli officials stated that the unmanned 
     aerial vehicle was an advanced piece of technology.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
     that--
       (1) joint research and development to counter unmanned 
     aerial vehicles will serve the national security interests of 
     the United States and Israel;
       (2) Israel faces urgent and emerging threats from unmanned 
     aerial vehicles, and other unmanned vehicles, launched from 
     Lebanon by Hezbollah, from Syria by Iran's Revolutionary 
     Guard Corps, or from others seeking to attack Israel;
       (3) efforts to counter unmanned aerial vehicles should 
     include the feasibility of utilizing directed energy and high 
     powered microwave technologies, which can disable vehicles 
     without kinetic destruction; and
       (4) the United States and Israel should continue to work 
     together to defend against all threats to the safety, 
     security, and national interests of both countries.
       (c) Authority to Enter Into Agreement.--
       (1) In general.--The President is authorized to enter into 
     a cooperative project agreement with Israel under the 
     authority of section 27 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
     U.S.C. 2767), to carry out research on, and development, 
     testing, evaluation, and joint production (including follow-
     on support) of, defense articles and defense services, such 
     as the use of directed energy or high powered microwave 
     technology, to detect, track, and destroy unmanned aerial 
     vehicles that threaten the United States or Israel.
       (2) Applicable requirements.--The cooperative project 
     agreement described in paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) provide that any activities carried out pursuant to the 
     agreement are subject to--
       (i) the applicable requirements described in subparagraphs 
     (A), (B), and (C) of section 27(b)(2) of the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2767(b)(2)); and
       (ii) any other applicable requirements of the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) with respect to the use, 
     transfers, and security of such defense articles and defense 
     services under that Act;
       (B) establish a framework to negotiate the rights to 
     intellectual property developed under the agreement; and
       (C) include appropriate protections for sensitive 
     technology.

         TITLE III--ENSURING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE

     SEC. 301. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to ensure that Israel 
     maintains its ability to counter and defeat any credible 
     conventional military, or emerging, threat from any 
     individual state or possible coalition of states or from non-
     state actors, while sustaining minimal damages and 
     casualties, through the use of superior military means, 
     possessed in sufficient quantity, including weapons, command, 
     control, communication, intelligence, surveillance, and 
     reconnaissance capabilities that in their technical 
     characteristics are superior in capability to those of such 
     other individual or possible coalition states or non-state 
     actors.

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, I am a strong supporter of Israel. They 
remain one of our staunchest allies, and we must support them. However, 
the Israelis have called for a curtailment of U.S. aid for more than 20 
years in order to ensure their own military and economic independence.
  In 2013, Naftali Bennet, who was then serving as Israel's Minister of 
Economics and as the leader of the Home Party said, ``Today, U.S. 
military aid is roughly 1 percent of Israel's economy. I think, 
generally, we need to free ourselves from it. We have to do it 
responsibly . . . but our situation today is very different from what 
it was 20 and 30 years ago.''
  Additionally, on July 10, 1996, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 
Netanyahu said before a Joint Session of Congress, ``I believe we can 
now say that Israel has reached childhood's end, that it has matured 
enough to begin approaching a state of self-reliance . . . . We are 
going to achieve economic independence [from the United States].''
  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Rubio 
amendment at the desk be agreed to, the committee-reported amendment, 
as amended, be agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be considered read 
a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 3690) was agreed to, as follows:

              (Purpose: To make improvements to the bill)

       On page 29, after line 26, add the following:
       (5) The current United States inventory of the precision 
     guided munitions described in paragraphs (1) and (2), and an 
     assessment whether such inventory meets the United States 
     total munitions requirement.
       On page 31, strike line 20 and insert ``at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and''.
       On page 40, after line 21, add the following:
       (d) Report on Cooperation.--
       (1) Report required.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the congressional defense committees (as that term 
     is defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
     Code), the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report describing the cooperation of the 
     United States with Israel with respect to countering unmanned 
     aerial systems that includes each of the following:
       (A) An identification of specific capability gaps of the 
     United States and Israel with respect to countering unmanned 
     aerial systems.
       (B) An identification of cooperative projects that would 
     address those capability gaps and mutually benefit and 
     strengthen the security of the United States and Israel.
       (C) An assessment of the projected cost for research and 
     development efforts for such cooperative projects, including 
     an identification of those to be conducted in the United 
     States, and the timeline for the completion of each such 
     project.
       (D) An assessment of the extent to which the capability 
     gaps of the United States

[[Page S5570]]

     identified pursuant to subparagraph (A) are not likely to be 
     addressed through the cooperative projects identified 
     pursuant to subparagraph (B).
       (E) An assessment of the projected costs for procurement 
     and fielding of any capabilities developed jointly pursuant 
     to an agreement described in subsection (c).
       (2) Limitation.--No activities may be conducted pursuant to 
     an agreement described in subsection (c) until the date that 
     is 15 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense 
     submits the report required under paragraph (1).
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question 
is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 2497), as amended, was passed, as follows:

                                S. 2497

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United 
     States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 
     2018''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Appropriate congressional committees defined.

                TITLE I--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL

Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Statement of policy regarding Israel's defense systems.
Sec. 103. Assistance for Israel.
Sec. 104. Extension of war reserves stockpile authority.
Sec. 105. Extension of loan guarantees to Israel.
Sec. 106. Joint assessment of quantity of precision guided munitions 
              for use by Israel.
Sec. 107. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel.
Sec. 108. Modification of rapid acquisition and deployment procedures.
Sec. 109. Eligibility of Israel for the strategic trade authorization 
              exception to certain export control licensing 
              requirements.

          TITLE II--ENHANCED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION

Sec. 201. United States-Israel space cooperation.
Sec. 202. United States Agency for International Development-Israel 
              enhanced partnership for development cooperation in 
              developing nations.
Sec. 203. Authority to enter into a cooperative project agreement with 
              Israel to counter unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten 
              the United States or Israel.

         TITLE III--ENSURING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE

Sec. 301. Statement of policy.

     SEC. 2. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

       In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional 
     committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

                TITLE I--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL

     SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In February 1987, the United States granted Israel 
     major non-NATO ally status.
       (2) On August 16, 2007, the United States and Israel signed 
     a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding on United States 
     military assistance to Israel. The total assistance over the 
     course of this understanding would equal $30,000,000,000.
       (3) On July 27, 2012, the United States-Israel Enhanced 
     Security Cooperation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-150; 22 
     U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) declared it to be the policy of the 
     United States ``to help the Government of Israel preserve its 
     qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional 
     political transformation'' and stated the sense of Congress 
     that the United States Government should ``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''.
       (4) On December 19, 2014, President Barack Obama signed 
     into law the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act 
     of 2014 (Public Law 113-296) which stated the sense of 
     Congress that Israel is a major strategic partner of the 
     United States and declared it to be the policy of the United 
     States ``to continue to provide Israel with robust security 
     assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome 
     Missile Defense System''.
       (5) Section 1679 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92; 129 Stat. 1135) 
     authorized funds to be appropriated for Israeli cooperative 
     missile defense program codevelopment and coproduction, 
     including funds to be provided to the Government of Israel to 
     procure the David's Sling weapon system as well as the Arrow 
     3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program.
       (6) On September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel 
     signed a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming the 
     importance of continuing annual United States military 
     assistance to Israel and cooperative missile defense programs 
     in a way that enhances Israel's security and strengthens the 
     bilateral relationship between the two countries.
       (7) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflected United 
     States support of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant 
     assistance to Israel over the ten year period beginning in 
     fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028. FMF grant 
     assistance would be at a level of $3,300,000,000 annually, 
     totaling $33,000,000,000, the largest single pledge of 
     military assistance ever and a reiteration of the seven-
     decade, unshakeable, bipartisan commitment of the United 
     States to Israel's security.
       (8) The Memorandum of Understanding also reflected United 
     States support for funding for cooperative programs to 
     develop, produce, and procure missile, rocket, and projectile 
     defense capabilities over a ten year period beginning in 
     fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028 at a level of 
     $500,000,000 per year, totaling $5,000,000,000.

     SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING ISRAEL'S DEFENSE 
                   SYSTEMS.

       It shall be the policy of the United States to provide 
     assistance to the Government of Israel in order to support 
     funding for cooperative programs to develop, produce, and 
     procure missile, rocket, projectile, and other defense 
     capabilities to help Israel meet its security needs and to 
     help develop and enhance United States defense capabilities.

     SEC. 103. ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Israel.--Section 
     513(c) of the Security Assistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 
     106-280; 114 Stat. 856) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2002 and 2003'' and 
     inserting ``2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 
     2027, and 2028'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``equal to--'' and inserting ``not less 
     than $3,300,000,000.''; and
       (B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B).

     SEC. 104. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.

       (a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005.--
     Section 12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations 
     Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended by 
     striking ``after September 30, 2018'' and inserting ``after 
     September 30, 2023''.
       (b) 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 ``2013, 2014, 2015, 
     2016, 2017, and 2018'' and inserting ``2018, 2019, 2020, 
     2021, 2022, and 2023.''.

     SEC. 105. 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, 2019'' and inserting ``September 30, 2023''; 
     and
       (2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30, 
     2019'' and inserting ``September 30, 2023''.

     SEC. 106. JOINT ASSESSMENT OF QUANTITY OF PRECISION GUIDED 
                   MUNITIONS FOR USE BY ISRAEL.

       (a) In General.--The President, acting through the 
     Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is 
     authorized to conduct a joint assessment with the Government 
     of Israel with respect to the matters described in subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Matters Described.--The matters described in this 
     subsection are the following:
       (1) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions 
     that are necessary for Israel to combat Hezbollah in the 
     event of a sustained armed confrontation between Israel and 
     Hezbollah.
       (2) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions 
     that are necessary for Israel in the event of a sustained 
     armed confrontation with other armed groups and terrorist 
     organizations such as Hamas.
       (3) The resources the Government of Israel can plan to 
     dedicate to acquire such precision guided munitions.
       (4) United States plans to assist Israel to prepare for 
     sustained armed confrontations described in this subsection 
     as well as the ability of the United States to resupply 
     Israel with precision guided munitions in the event of 
     confrontations described in paragraphs (1) and (2), if any.
       (5) The current United States inventory of the precision 
     guided munitions described in paragraphs (1) and (2), and an 
     assessment whether such inventory meets the United States 
     total munitions requirement.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after the date on 
     which the joint assessment authorized under subsection (a) is 
     completed, the President shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report that contains the joint 
     assessment.
       (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     annex.

[[Page S5571]]

  


     SEC. 107. TRANSFER OF PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS TO ISRAEL.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h), the President is 
     authorized to sell such quantities of precision guided 
     munitions from reserve stocks to Israel as necessary for 
     legitimate self-defense and otherwise consistent with the 
     purposes and conditions for such sales under the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.).
       (b) Certifications.--Except in case of emergency, not later 
     than 5 days before making a sale under this section, the 
     President shall certify in an unclassified notification to 
     the appropriate congressional committees that the sale of the 
     precision guided munitions--
       (1) does not affect the ability of the United States to 
     maintain a sufficient supply of precision guided munitions;
       (2) does not harm the combat readiness of the United States 
     or the ability of the United States to meet its commitment to 
     allies for the transfer of such munitions; and
       (3) is necessary for Israel to counter the threat of 
     rockets in a timely fashion.

     SEC. 108. MODIFICATION OF RAPID ACQUISITION AND DEPLOYMENT 
                   PROCEDURES.

       (a) Requirement to Establish Procedures.--
       (1) In general.--Section 806(a) of the Bob Stump National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (10 U.S.C. 
     2302 note; Public Law 107-314) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``; and'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) urgently needed to support production of precision 
     guided munitions--
       ``(A) for United States counterterrorism missions; or
       ``(B) to assist an ally of the United States under direct 
     missile threat from--
       ``(i) an organization the Secretary of State has designated 
     as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); or
       ``(ii) a country the government of which the Secretary of 
     State has determined, for purposes of section 6(j) of the 
     Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 4605(j)) (as in 
     effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
     Powers Act), section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371), section 40 of the Arms Export Control 
     Act (22 U.S.C. 2780), or any other provision of law, is a 
     government that has repeatedly provided support for acts of 
     international terrorism.''.
       (2) Prescription of procedures.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Defense shall prescribe procedures for the rapid acquisition 
     and deployment of supplies and associated support services 
     for purposes described in paragraph (3) of section 806(a) of 
     the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2003, as added by paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection.
       (b) Use of Amounts in Special Defense Acquisition Fund.--
     Section 114(c)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``or 
     to assist an ally of the United States that is under direct 
     missile threat, including from a terrorist organization 
     supported by Iran, and such threat adversely affects the 
     safety and security of such ally''.

     SEC. 109. ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAEL FOR THE STRATEGIC TRADE 
                   AUTHORIZATION EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN EXPORT 
                   CONTROL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Israel has adopted high standards in the field of 
     export controls.
       (2) Israel has declared its unilateral adherence to the 
     Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and 
     the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
       (3) Israel is a party to--
       (A) the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the 
     Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be 
     Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, 
     signed at Geneva October 10, 1980;
       (B) the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of 
     Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of 
     Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva June 17, 
     1925; and
       (C) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear 
     Material, adopted at Vienna October 26, 1979.
       (4) Section 6(b) of the United States-Israel Strategic 
     Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8603 note) directs the 
     President, consistent with the commitments of the United 
     States under international agreements, to take steps so that 
     Israel may be included in the list of countries eligible for 
     the strategic trade authorization exception under section 
     740.20(c)(1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, to the 
     requirement for a license for the export, reexport, or in-
     country transfer of an item subject to controls under the 
     Export Administration Regulations.
       (b) Report on Eligibility for Strategic Trade Authorization 
     Exception.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report that--
       (A) describes the steps taken to include Israel in the list 
     of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization 
     exception as required under 6(b) of the United States-Israel 
     Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8603 note; 
     Public Law 113-296); and
       (B) includes what steps are necessary for Israel to be 
     included in such a list of countries eligible for the 
     strategic trade authorization exception.
       (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     annex.

          TITLE II--ENHANCED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION

     SEC. 201. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL SPACE COOPERATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Authorized in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration (NASA) supports and coordinates United States 
     Government research in aeronautics, human exploration and 
     operations, science, and space technology.
       (2) Established in 1983, the Israel Space Agency (ISA) 
     supports the growth of Israel's space industry by supporting 
     academic research, technological innovation, and educational 
     activities.
       (3) The mutual interest of the United States and Israel in 
     space exploration affords both nations an opportunity to 
     leverage their unique abilities to advance scientific 
     discovery.
       (4) In 1996, NASA and the ISA entered into an agreement 
     outlining areas of mutual cooperation, which remained in 
     force until 2005.
       (5) Since 1996, NASA and the ISA have successfully 
     cooperated on many space programs supporting the Global 
     Positioning System and research related to the sun, earth 
     science, and the environment.
       (6) The bond between NASA and the ISA was permanently 
     forged on February 1, 2003, with the loss of the crew of STS-
     107, including Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon.
       (7) On October 13, 2015, the United States and Israel 
     signed the Framework Agreement between the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of 
     America and the Israel Space Agency for Cooperation in 
     Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer 
     Space for Peaceful Purposes.
       (b) Continuing Cooperation.--The Administrator of the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall continue 
     to work with the Israel Space Agency to identify and 
     cooperatively pursue peaceful space exploration and science 
     initiatives in areas of mutual interest, taking all 
     appropriate measures to protect sensitive information, 
     intellectual property, trade secrets, and economic interests 
     of the United States.

     SEC. 202. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT-
                   ISRAEL ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT 
                   COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.

       (a) Statement of Policy.--It should be the policy of the 
     United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to 
     partner with Israel in order to advance common goals across a 
     wide variety of sectors, including energy, agriculture and 
     food security, democracy, human rights and governance, 
     economic growth and trade, education, environment, global 
     health, and water and sanitation.
       (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development is 
     authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with 
     Israel in order to enhance coordination on advancing common 
     goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, 
     human rights and governance, economic growth and trade, 
     education, environment, global health, and water and 
     sanitation with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and 
     cooperation with nations throughout the world.

     SEC. 203. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE PROJECT 
                   AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL TO COUNTER UNMANNED 
                   AERIAL VEHICLES THAT THREATEN THE UNITED STATES 
                   OR ISRAEL.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On February 10, 2018, Iran launched from Syria an 
     unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly known as a ``drone'') that 
     penetrated Israeli airspace.
       (2) According to a press report, the unmanned aerial 
     vehicle was in Israeli airspace for a minute and a half 
     before being shot down by its air force.
       (3) Senior Israeli officials stated that the unmanned 
     aerial vehicle was an advanced piece of technology.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
     that--
       (1) joint research and development to counter unmanned 
     aerial vehicles will serve the national security interests of 
     the United States and Israel;
       (2) Israel faces urgent and emerging threats from unmanned 
     aerial vehicles, and other unmanned vehicles, launched from 
     Lebanon by Hezbollah, from Syria by Iran's Revolutionary 
     Guard Corps, or from others seeking to attack Israel;
       (3) efforts to counter unmanned aerial vehicles should 
     include the feasibility of utilizing directed energy and high 
     powered microwave technologies, which can disable vehicles 
     without kinetic destruction; and
       (4) the United States and Israel should continue to work 
     together to defend against all threats to the safety, 
     security, and national interests of both countries.
       (c) Authority To Enter Into Agreement.--

[[Page S5572]]

       (1) In general.--The President is authorized to enter into 
     a cooperative project agreement with Israel under the 
     authority of section 27 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
     U.S.C. 2767), to carry out research on, and development, 
     testing, evaluation, and joint production (including follow-
     on support) of, defense articles and defense services, such 
     as the use of directed energy or high powered microwave 
     technology, to detect, track, and destroy unmanned aerial 
     vehicles that threaten the United States or Israel.
       (2) Applicable requirements.--The cooperative project 
     agreement described in paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) provide that any activities carried out pursuant to the 
     agreement are subject to--
       (i) the applicable requirements described in subparagraphs 
     (A), (B), and (C) of section 27(b)(2) of the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2767(b)(2)); and
       (ii) any other applicable requirements of the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) with respect to the use, 
     transfers, and security of such defense articles and defense 
     services under that Act;
       (B) establish a framework to negotiate the rights to 
     intellectual property developed under the agreement; and
       (C) include appropriate protections for sensitive 
     technology.
       (d) Report on Cooperation.--
       (1) Report required.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the congressional defense committees (as that term 
     is defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
     Code), the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report describing the cooperation of the 
     United States with Israel with respect to countering unmanned 
     aerial systems that includes each of the following:
       (A) An identification of specific capability gaps of the 
     United States and Israel with respect to countering unmanned 
     aerial systems.
       (B) An identification of cooperative projects that would 
     address those capability gaps and mutually benefit and 
     strengthen the security of the United States and Israel.
       (C) An assessment of the projected cost for research and 
     development efforts for such cooperative projects, including 
     an identification of those to be conducted in the United 
     States, and the timeline for the completion of each such 
     project.
       (D) An assessment of the extent to which the capability 
     gaps of the United States identified pursuant to subparagraph 
     (A) are not likely to be addressed through the cooperative 
     projects identified pursuant to subparagraph (B).
       (E) An assessment of the projected costs for procurement 
     and fielding of any capabilities developed jointly pursuant 
     to an agreement described in subsection (c).
       (2) Limitation.--No activities may be conducted pursuant to 
     an agreement described in subsection (c) until the date that 
     is 15 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense 
     submits the report required under paragraph (1).

         TITLE III--ENSURING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE

     SEC. 301. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to ensure that Israel 
     maintains its ability to counter and defeat any credible 
     conventional military, or emerging, threat from any 
     individual state or possible coalition of states or from non-
     state actors, while sustaining minimal damages and 
     casualties, through the use of superior military means, 
     possessed in sufficient quantity, including weapons, command, 
     control, communication, intelligence, surveillance, and 
     reconnaissance capabilities that in their technical 
     characteristics are superior in capability to those of such 
     other individual or possible coalition states or non-state 
     actors.
  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________