[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8145-H8150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1715
   UNITED STATES-ISRAEL SECURITY ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is 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 ``Ileana 
     Ros-Lehtinen 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. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel.
Sec. 107. Sense of Congress on rapid acquisition and deployment 
              procedures.
Sec. 108. 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.

       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''; and
       (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.

       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. 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 transfer 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 transfers 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 transfer under this section, the 
     President shall certify in an unclassified notification to 
     the appropriate congressional committees that the transfer 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;
       (3) is necessary for Israel to counter the threat of 
     rockets in a timely fashion; and
       (4) is in the national security interest of the United 
     States.

     SEC. 107. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON RAPID ACQUISITION AND 
                   DEPLOYMENT PROCEDURES.

       It is the sense of Congress that the President should 
     prescribe procedures for the rapid acquisition and deployment 
     of precision guided munitions for United States 
     counterterrorism missions, or to assist an ally of the United 
     States, including Israel, that is subject to direct missile 
     threat.

     SEC. 108. 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

[[Page H8146]]

     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 describes 
     the steps taken pursuant to section 6(b) of the United 
     States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 
     8603 note).
       (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     provided in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     portion.

          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.
       (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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days

[[Page H8147]]

in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous 
material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Israel faces growing threats, but 
particularly from Iran and its terrorist proxies such as Hezbollah.
  This year, for the first time, we have seen direct military 
engagement between Iran and Israel. It is not just attacks coming over 
the border from Lebanon with Hezbollah, but direct military attacks. 
Iran launched a drone and fired rockets toward Israel. They did both 
from the perch that they have now in Syria. Those Iranian militia and 
troops are in Syria. Meanwhile, Iran's terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, 
continues to amass rockets and missiles. They have well over 100,000 in 
their inventory now. This bill will ensure that the United States 
continues to have Israel's back in the face of these growing threats.
  With this measure, we are codifying the assistance levels in the 
latest 10-year U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding. What that aims 
to do is strengthen our already robust relationship, especially on 
defense matters. The bill also works to build on the United States' and 
Israel's successful history of cooperation on technology development. 
Think of the Iron Dome missile defense system, which shot down some of 
those Iranian rockets. Mr. Engel and I have seen those Iron Dome 
systems at work, deployed in Israel.
  More recently, the U.S. and Israel have begun collaborating on anti-
tunnel technology. Why?
  Well, Eliot and I can tell you that we had the opportunity--and this 
was a sad story--to go into one of those tunnels. We did not know where 
that tunnel ended up when we started. The other end of that tunnel was 
an elementary school in Israel. Obviously, the intent of the terrorists 
was to use that tunnel in order to go in and kidnap children and then 
force the IDF to fight block by block by block. Hamas dug those 
tunnels. Hezbollah digs tunnels, as well. This anti-tunnel technology 
will help the IDF find and destroy those tunnels that are used for 
smuggling and launching attacks on Israel.
  This measure supports continued cooperation on space science and 
exploration, in line with the NASA Administrator's recent trip to 
Israel to discuss expanding U.S.-Israel space cooperation.
  This bill also authorizes the United States and Israel to collaborate 
on humanitarian assistance projects around the world. It authorizes the 
President to transfer precision-guided munitions to Israel.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen). She is chairman emeritus of the full committee and the 
current chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. I 
thank her for her work on this bill. I also thank the gentleman from 
Florida, Ted Deutch, the ranking member of the Middle East and North 
Africa Subcommittee. Together, these two members authored the House 
companion to this Senate bill, which passed our committee unanimously, 
the latest in a long list of successful collaborations between our 
committee members.
  In honor of her tremendous legacy as an advocate for Israel, we are 
naming this legislation the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-Israel 
Security Assistance Act of 2018.
  In her almost three decades in the House, Chairman Ros-Lehtinen has 
made steadfast support for Israel a hallmark of her congressional 
career. She was the first woman to chair the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs and the first Hispanic women to serve in Congress. The U.S.-
Israel relationship is stronger for the work that she has done in 
Congress. She will be greatly missed.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                  Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,

                               Washington, DC, September 10, 2018.
     Hon. Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning S. 2497, the 
     ``United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act 
     of 2018,'' which was referred to your Committee on August 3, 
     2018.
       S. 2497 contains provisions within the Committee on 
     Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a 
     result of your having consulted with the Committee and in 
     order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego 
     action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our 
     mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or 
     alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, 
     or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject 
     matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming 
     this understanding, and request that you include a copy of 
     this letter and your response in the Congressional Record 
     during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in 
     advance for your cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Lamar Smith,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                               Washington, DC, September 10, 2018.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from 
     further consideration of S. 2497, United States-Israel 
     Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, so that the 
     bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this resolution or similar legislation in the future. I 
     would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any 
     House-Senate conference on this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on S. 2497 into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work together as this measure 
     moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                               Washington, DC, September 10, 2018.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, House Armed Services Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from 
     further consideration of S. 2497, United States-Israel 
     Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, so that the 
     bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this resolution or similar legislation in the future. I 
     would support your effort to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any 
     House-Senate conference on this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on S. 2497 into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work together as this measure 
     moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward R. Royce,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. We are taking up a 
bill from the Senate that I fully support, with a couple of small 
amendments.
  One of these amendments is to rename the legislation after a Member 
of this House. I find myself experiencing a little bit of denial, 
because it reminds me that one of our most able and valued colleagues 
is about to wrap up her distinguished career. I can't imagine what it 
is going to be like without Ileana Ros-Lehtinen around here. She came 
to Congress the year after I did, and we have been close friends ever 
since.
  The gentlewoman from Florida has been a dear friend and an 
exceptional colleague, and there has been no fiercer champion of the 
U.S.-Israel relationship than Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. So it is entirely 
fitting that we amend this bill to name it in her honor, the Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act.
  Let me also thank the chief Democratic sponsor of this legislation, 
Mr.

[[Page H8148]]

Deutch, also of Florida, who has worked tirelessly to shape this 
legislation and to reaffirm the unshakable bond between the United 
States and Israel.
  This bill, like the House version passed by the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, fully authorizes the historic memorandum of understanding, 
or MOU, between the United States and Israel, which President Obama 
signed and which will go into effect next year.
  This MOU provides for a 10-year agreement at $3.3 billion per year 
and a $500 million missile defense pledge, the largest single pledge of 
military assistance in our country's history. The MOU is a concrete 
example of something I often say; while prime ministers may come and 
go, Presidents come and go, members of Knesset come and go, and Members 
of Congress come and go, the U.S.-Israel relationship is here to stay.
  Our relationship with Israel benefits both our countries. For both of 
us, it strengthens security and stability, and advances our shared 
values. This is the bedrock of our friendship. This bill moves us 
forward in new areas of cooperation.
  For example, Mr. Kilmer of Washington wrote a provision that will 
spur closer cooperation on space issues. Mr. Crist of Florida wrote a 
section dealing with unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten the United 
States or Israel. Mr. Schneider's work will help ensure Israel's 
qualitative military edge. Mr. Boyle included a measure that will 
increase Israel's access to precision-guided munitions.
  I would like to point out a couple of issues, which I hope we can 
address through additional legislation. This bill was originally 
intended to include Mr. Langevin's legislation to enhance U.S.-Israel 
cooperation on cybersecurity. This is an area where we should be 
working together. So I was disappointed that it was struck from this, 
and I hope that it soon crosses the finish line as a standalone bill.
  Additionally, Mr. Boyle's bill to allow Israel to purchase precision-
guided weapons was included in the Senate bill. The Armed Services 
Committee majority objected. So this version waters down the 
authorization for these purchases to a sense of Congress, which is 
considerably weaker.
  While I wish Armed Services Republicans would reconsider their 
objection, I won't stand in the way of moving this critical bill 
forward at this time. I am told that their concern is jurisdictional, 
and I hope they will remain sensitive to this issue the next time a 
defense authorization comes to the floor loaded down with provisions 
that fall in the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Let me finish by saying that this bill is very timely. The threats 
facing the United States and Israel are becoming more urgent and more 
complex. ISIS is growing in the Sinai; Israel's neighbors are 
shouldering new burdens from refugees, causing further instability; and 
Iran's behavior in the region has, unfortunately become even more 
dangerous. The United States has been there by Israel's side throughout 
this dangerous time. And that is the way it should be.
  Today, we put that into law. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I congratulate my good friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the chairman emeritus of 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of H.R. 5141, the House 
predecessor of the legislation we have before us.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his kind 
words and the words of my good friend, Ranking Member Engel. This is 
truly an unexpected, humbling honor. I thank both of their teams for 
their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor, and I thank all 
Members and supporters of Israel. There are so many of us in this 
Chamber. We have been through a lot together and the U.S.-Israel 
relationship is stronger because every single one of us works hard at 
it.
  Mr. Speaker, a special thank you to my dear friend and Florida 
colleague, Ted Deutch, the great ranking member of our subcommittee, 
with whom I have had the honor of working so closely on these issues 
over the past 6 years. He is the author of this newly named bill and 
the one with that idea.
  As so many know, Mr. Speaker, it has been an absolute joy for me to 
have been a part of this distinguished body for almost 30 years, as the 
chairman points out, to advocate for my constituents and to serve on 
our esteemed House Committee on Foreign Affairs to promote American 
ideals like freedom, democracy, and human rights, and to help 
strengthen the bonds we have with allies around the world.
  No relationship, Mr. Speaker, is more important than the one that we 
have with the democratic Jewish State of Israel. Israel is an 
indispensable, strategic partner, not just for its protection of U.S. 
interests, but because of our shared beliefs and our shared values.
  I have had the incredible honor and privilege to travel to Israel, 
both with the chairman, the ranking member, and Mr. Deutch. We have 
seen firsthand that these shared values and these shared beliefs are 
seen every day in Israel, after centuries of suffering, and it has 
allowed the Jewish people to beat all the odds and to develop a country 
that has become a thriving global leader.

  It only gets more impressive when you consider the neighborhood where 
Israel is--one that has never been more dangerous and more threatening 
to them than it is today. The threats just keep getting tougher for 
Israel.
  For all of these reasons, I am so proud to have authored, along with 
the ranking member, Mr. Deutch, this bill, because we have worked 
together on this and we advocated for the bill before us today.
  The bill authorizes, as has been explained, additional security 
assistance for Israel at a minimum of $3.3 billion, the level agreed to 
in the memorandum of understanding, for the next 10 years.
  With this bill, Mr. Speaker, we both have the comfort of knowing that 
our support for Israel will be ironclad, but it also provides us with 
the flexibility to modify that support should the threats to Israel 
increase. If additional support is needed, it would be given.
  From drones and emerging threats to cybersecurity to space to 
development cooperation in other countries, this bill also includes a 
host of other provisions to expand our collaboration in other areas. 
Collaboration is an important word because, as the chair and ranking 
member have pointed out, this bill has been a positive, collaborative 
effort by many Members in a bipartisan manner.
  The U.S.-Israel partnership has never been stronger than it is today. 
It is my sincere honor to have played a very small part in that. I 
encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, in spite of its 
name.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Deutch), the lead Democratic author on the House version 
of the bill. He is also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee 
and the ranking member of the Middle East Subcommittee.
  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise in support of 
the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization 
Act of 2018.

                              {time}  1730

  I am proud to have worked on this critical security bill with my 
colleague and friend, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
  The U.S.-Israel relationship has been and must continue to be a 
bipartisan priority regardless of the party in power at either end of 
Pennsylvania Avenue. With today's vote, we have the chance to reinforce 
that point.
  The threats against Israel remain numerous and complex. Iran is 
seeking to secure a permanent foothold in neighboring Syria. Hezbollah 
continues to stockpile an estimated 150,000 missiles near Israel's 
border, and a humanitarian crisis looms in Gaza, threatening stability 
in Israel.
  Israel must be prepared to defend itself from threats coming from 
every direction, from everything from the most rudimentary of weapons--
as we have seen with the ``arson kites'' from Hamas, the ``terror 
kites''--to advanced Iranian-made missiles.
  The 2016 memorandum of understanding between our countries committed 
unprecedented levels of security. That assistance is $38 billion over

[[Page H8149]]

10 years, and this bill will enshrine that figure into law. Notably, 
nearly all of this American taxpayer money will come back to the United 
States and support American jobs.
  This bill will codify this memorandum and ensure that Israel has the 
capability to defend itself from any and all threats. That means 
strengthening Israel's qualitative military edge, authorizing 
cooperation on UAV technology, and expanding cooperation in new areas, 
such as space, and through a new effort to work together to provide 
humanitarian assistance around the globe.
  When we consider legislation like this, we must remember that threats 
against Israel are also a threat to our security interests in the 
region. Enhancing Israel's security is a step towards strengthening our 
own national security, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill 
and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship.
  Finally, I would like to thank Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for her 
service to our Nation and particularly for her ardent and unwavering 
support for our ally, Israel, throughout her nearly three decades in 
Congress. Her long and decorated career in this Chamber, as historic as 
it was effective, will live on through her incredible achievements in 
our Nation's robust foreign policy.
  Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has been the leading voice on a foreign 
policy that stands up to rogue regimes wherever they are and always, 
always values human rights. Without a doubt, her contributions to 
strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship will take their place in 
this body's history. There has been no greater champion than Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Florida an 
additional 1 minute.
  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman's contributions to the 
strengthening of the U.S.-Israel relationship will take their place in 
this body's history because there has been no greater champion than 
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. It has been an honor to work with her on this most 
recent effort to broaden and enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship, so 
it is only fitting that this piece of legislation should bear her name.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend and colleague. This bill is but a 
small part of the legacy that she leaves behind in this great Chamber. 
It has been an honor and a privilege to work with her. It has been an 
honor and a privilege to work with the chairman, Mr. Royce. I am 
grateful for their leadership, as I am for Mr. Engel and the great job 
he does as ranking member.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and 
International Organizations.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce, 
Ranking Member Engel, and Mr. Deutch for all of their very excellent 
comments towards our good friend and colleague Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a 
chairwoman in earnest who has been one of the greatest friends Israel 
has ever known in this Chamber.
  The gentlewoman has been tenacious in her fight against terrorism, 
particularly as it relates to Iran, and against very considerable odds 
has been able to promote legislation that has made a huge difference in 
protecting the people of Israel from the ever-present threats, the 
existential threats that they face in the region. I thank Ms. Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen. It is so fitting that this bill is named after her.
  This bill authorizes, as we all know, enhanced military cooperation 
between our countries; it further enshrines Israel's qualitative 
military edge; it authorizes foreign military financing at an annual 
level of no less than $3.3 billion, agreed to in the bilateral MOU 
negotiated under the Obama administration, but, crucially, the bill 
specifies that the assistance should be not less than $3.3 billion. It 
is a statement that it is a floor and not a ceiling, so, over the next 
10 years, at least that much and hopefully more because we know the 
needs are overwhelming.
  The bill's other provisions: it facilitates the transfer of advanced, 
precision-guided missiles for Israel's use and lays the groundwork for 
bilateral cooperation that will assist Israel in confronting an 
evolving landscape of threats, including from unmanned UAVs.
  The many facets of cooperation supported by this bill, from 
international development to space exploration, are not just for 
Israel's benefit. They also contribute to our national security. The 
U.S. is safer when Israel is stronger. This bill translates that 
fundamental principle into practical initiatives for fruitful 
collaboration and mutual benefit.
  It is fitting, again, that this act will be named after a great 
American and a great friend of Israel, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Frankel), a very valued member of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee and a cosponsor of this bill.
  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to work with Mr. 
Engel, Mr. Royce, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. And Mr. Poe, it has been a great 
pleasure and honor to work with you in a bipartisan manner on our 
Foreign Affairs Committee.
  I am very proudly standing here, of course, in support of this United 
States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, which recognizes 
Israel's right to defend itself and writes into law the continued 
cooperation between our two countries.
  Defending Israel is in our national security interest, as is ensuring 
our great friend and ally is safe. It is more important than ever, as 
mentioned by my colleagues here today.
  When you look at the region, there is reason to be worried: Hamas in 
Gaza, rebuilding its rocket arsenal and calling for Israel's 
destruction; Iran now threatening to dramatically increase its 
enrichment of uranium while constructing military bases in Syria; ISIS 
wreaking havoc in Sinai; and Hezbollah pointing 150,000 missiles at 
Israel.
  So we must continue strengthening Israel's defenses, and this 
important bill codifies the memorandum of understanding with Israel 
signed by the Obama administration, the largest U.S. military 
assistance package ever.
  The measure also expands U.S.-Israel cooperation in areas of mutual 
interest, including authorizing USAID to partner with Israel to aid 
low-income countries; by leveraging Israeli innovations in the water, 
food, security, energy, and global health sectors.
  In an increasingly polarized Washington, Israel can never be a 
partisan issue. That is why I am so glad this is not a partisan issue. 
I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time to close.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield for such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).
  (Mr. HASTINGS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding to 
me in support of this measure that I think is most deserving for my 
dear friend from Florida.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Let me again applaud the chief sponsors of this legislation, 
Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch, along with their Senate 
counterparts, for their tremendous work.
  Let me also, again, as I have many times, thank our chairman. We have 
worked very closely together on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and this 
is proof of that kind of collaboration where we have both sides of the 
aisle doing things that are good for the United States of America.
  This legislation and the MOU that it puts into law represents the 
unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel and the shared 
interests and values that have been the hallmark of this relationship.
  As Chairman Royce mentioned before, he and I have been there together 
many times. We have seen those terror tunnels. We have seen all kinds 
of things. The people of Israel need the United States, and we need the 
people of Israel.
  The United States has stood up for democracy through all these 
glorious years of our being a republic, and we

[[Page H8150]]

cannot stop now. That is why legislation such as this bipartisan 
legislation is so important for us to pass.
  This, in law, represents the unbreakable bond between the United 
States and Israel and the shared interests and values that have been 
the hallmark of this relationship.
  The Middle East is a very dangerous neighborhood. We here in the 
United States have the benefit of stepping back a bit, but we are not 
on the front line day in and day out the way the beleaguered people of 
Israel are with one country after another vowing to try to destroy it.
  This Congress, in a bipartisan fashion, stands together and says that 
the United States stands with the people of Israel, and that makes me 
very proud of this Congress, proud of our Foreign Affairs Committee, 
proud of our chairman, and proud of all the people who have spoken, 
particularly Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who deserves all the accolades you 
can think of. Whatever I said wouldn't be dramatic enough to explain 
the force that she has been for the past 30 years on the Foreign 
Affairs Committee doing good things, particularly with the State of 
Israel.
  It is going to be difficult to not see her here, but I know she will 
be doing everything that she can continue to do to enhance the U.S.-
Israel relationship.

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  The democratic Jewish State of Israel is a friend and a major 
strategic partner of the United States. Israel is a beacon, as Ileana 
shared with us, of freedom, of democracy, of stability in the otherwise 
troubled Middle East. In short, it is the very opposite of the brutal 
and corrupt Iranian regime.
  Iran has never made its threats to Israel a secret, and that is what 
they mean when the Ayatollah says: ``Death to Israel; death to 
America.''
  After years of moving the pieces into place, including by showering 
its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, with money and with rockets and with 
missiles and attempting to exploit the conflict in Syria to build a 
military presence and support base there on the border, it is slowly 
but surely preparing to make good on this threat. With this bill, we 
can ensure that Israel has the tools to defend it self and defend our 
shared interests in the face of that mounting threat.
  I do thank our ranking member, Eliot Engel, and I do thank Ted Deutch 
for all of the bipartisan cooperation that has allowed us to move so 
many measures through the committee, through the Senate, and into law.
  I also want, in closing, to thank and to note that I was the 
beneficiary of the good work of my predecessor in this position, Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen, when I took over the committee 6 years ago, and for that 
I am also very thankful.
  I am thankful for the contributions that all of these individuals 
have made to the betterment of our defense, the security of the United 
States, the security of our allies. I am proud of the fact that we have 
done it in a bipartisan way.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
the House amendment to S. 2497, the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-
Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018.
  This bill would enshrine in law the 2016 U.S. Memorandum of 
Understanding that the Obama Administration reached with Israel.
  This landmark agreement provides for historic levels of security 
cooperation with and assistance to Israel. Enacting this legislation 
would send an unmistakable message to Israel's enemies that the 
American commitment to Israel's security is ironclad.
  Israel continually faces threats from all sides, and we have the 
responsibility to be sure that Israelis have everything they need in 
order to defend her citizens.
  Whether it's missiles, tunnels, arson kites, or potential border 
breaches from Hamas in Gaza, rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon, drones 
from Iranian forces in Syria, or whatever other lethal attempt may be 
devised, Israel must be ready to combat whatever comes her way.
  Mr. Speaker, Israel's security is nonnegotiable. With enemies 
committed to the country's destruction throughout the entirety of its 
70-year existence, Israel's qualitative military edge is absolutely 
necessary, and I am pleased that this bill ensures that this edge will 
be maintained.
  Even amidst persistent security threats, Israel has been a remarkable 
leader in technological and humanitarian endeavors. This legislation, 
by enhancing U.S.-Israeli cooperation in space exploration and 
international development, will strengthen both of our countries and 
many other parts of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, as we work on a bipartisan basis to ensure that the 
U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong far into the future, I can 
think of no more fitting namesake for this bill than my friend and 
colleague, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
  Israel has a true friend and supporter in Ileana, and as she departs 
at the end of this Congress, we will all be well served to follow her 
example of working across the aisle to ensure that American support for 
Israel remains unbreakable.
  To that end, I proudly urge the passage of the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018.
  Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the House Amendment to 
S. 2497, the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Israel Security Assistance 
Authorization Act. As Israel faces growing threats from Iran, 
Hezbollah, and Hamas, this bill reaffirms the United States' strong 
belief that Israel has the right to defend herself and ensures that 
Israel has the means to do so. Passage of this bill will send a 
powerful message to Israel's adversaries: the United States will 
continue to stand with Israel. I will note that this bill is 
appropriately named for my good friend, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, who as we all know is departing at the end of this Congress. 
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has been a strong supporter of Israel, a 
champion of democracy across the world, and one of this chamber's true 
believers in the ideal of bipartisan foreign policy. So I thank 
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for her leadership, and I urge all my 
colleagues to support this important measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 2497, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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