Congressional Record, Volume 165 Issue 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)

[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7188-H7198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

{time} 1615
UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ENHANCEMENT AND REGIONAL SECURITY ACT

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1837) to make improvements to certain defense and security
assistance provisions and to authorize assistance for Israel, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 1837

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United
States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.

TITLE I--ENHANCED COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL

Sec. 101. Coordinator of United States-Israel Research and Development.
Sec. 102. Cooperation on directed energy capabilities.
Sec. 103. Cooperation on cybersecurity.
Sec. 104. Report on potential benefits and impact to the United States
of establishing a joint United States-Israel
Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.
Sec. 105. Cyber diplomacy officer.
Sec. 106. United States Agency for International Development
Memorandum-Israel enhanced cooperation.
Sec. 107. Cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and
developing countries.
Sec. 108. Joint cooperative program related to innovation and high-tech
for the Middle East region.
Sec. 109. Sense of Congress on Eastern Mediterranean energy
cooperation.
Sec. 110. Cooperation on other matters.

TITLE II--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL

Sec. 201. Findings.
Sec. 202. Statement of policy.
Sec. 203. Contingency plans to provide Israel with necessary defense
articles and services.
Sec. 204. Waiver for existing or imminent military threat to Israel.
Sec. 205. Security assistance for Israel.
Sec. 206. Joint assessment of quantity of precision guided munitions
for use by Israel.
Sec. 207. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel.
Sec. 208. Sense of Congress on rapid acquisition and deployment
procedures.

[[Page H7189]]

Sec. 209. Extension of War Reserves Stockpile authority.
Sec. 210. Eligibility of Israel for the strategic trade authorization
exception to certain export control licensing
requirements.
Sec. 211. Extension of loan guarantees to Israel.
Sec. 212. Definition.

TITLE III--JUSTICE FOR UNITED STATES VICTIMS OF PALESTINIAN TERRORISM

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Facilitation of the settlement of terrorism-related claims of
nationals of the United States.
Sec. 303. Modification to consent of certain parties to personal
jurisdiction.

TITLE IV--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

Sec. 401. Determination of budgetary effects.

TITLE I--ENHANCED COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL

SEC. 101. COORDINATOR OF UNITED STATES-ISRAEL RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT.

(a) In General.--The President is encouraged to designate
the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs to act as
Coordinator of United States-Israel Research and Development
(in this section referred to as the ``Coordinator'').
(b) Authorities and Duties.--The Coordinator, in
conjunction with the heads of relevant Federal Government
departments and agencies and in coordination with the Israel
Innovation Authority, shall oversee civilian science and
technology programs on a joint basis with Israel.
(c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Coordinator shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on the implementation of this section.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

SEC. 102. COOPERATION ON DIRECTED ENERGY CAPABILITIES.

(a) Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, upon request of
the Ministry of Defense of Israel and with the concurrence of
the Secretary of State, is authorized to carry out research,
development, test, and evaluation activities, on a joint
basis with Israel, to establish directed energy capabilities
that address threats to the United States, deployed forces of
the United States, or Israel. Any activities carried out
pursuant to such authority shall be conducted in a manner
that appropriately protects sensitive information and the
national security interests of the United States and the
national security interests of Israel.
(2) Report.--The activities described in paragraph (1) may
be carried out after the Secretary of Defense submits to the
appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth
the following:
(A) A memorandum of agreement between the United States and
Israel regarding sharing of research and development costs
for the capabilities described in paragraph (1), and any
supporting documents.
(B) A certification that the memorandum of agreement--
(i) requires sharing of costs of projects, including in-
kind support, between the United States and Israel;
(ii) establishes a framework to negotiate the rights to any
intellectual property developed under the memorandum of
agreement; and
(iii) requires the United States Government to receive
semiannual reports on expenditure of funds, if any, by the
Government of Israel, including a description of what the
funds have been used for, when funds were expended, and an
identification of entities that expended the funds.
(b) Support in Connection With Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense is authorized to
provide maintenance and sustainment support to Israel for the
directed energy capabilities research, development, test, and
evaluation activities authorized in subsection (a)(1). Such
authority includes authority to install equipment necessary
to carry out such research, development, test, and
evaluation.
(2) Report.--The support described in paragraph (1) may not
be provided until 15 days after the Secretary of Defense
submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report
setting forth a detailed description of the support to be
provided.
(3) Matching contribution.--The support described in
paragraph (1) may not be provided unless the Secretary of
Defense certifies to the appropriate congressional committees
that the Government of Israel will contribute to such
support--
(A) an amount equal to not less than the amount of support
to be so provided; or
(B) an amount that otherwise meets the best efforts of
Israel, as mutually agreed to by the United States and
Israel.
(c) Lead Agency.--The Secretary of Defense shall designate
an appropriate research and development entity of a military
department as the lead agency of the Department of Defense in
carrying out this section.
(d) Semiannual Report.--The Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees on a
semiannual basis a report that contains a copy of the most
recent semiannual report provided by the Government of Israel
to the Department of Defense pursuant to subsection
(a)(2)(B)(iii).
(e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate.

SEC. 103. COOPERATION ON CYBERSECURITY.

(a) Grant Program.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, in accordance with the
agreement entitled the ``Agreement between the Government of
the United States of America and the Government of the State
of Israel on Cooperation in Science and Technology for
Homeland Security Matters'', dated May 29, 2008 (or successor
agreement), and the requirements specified in paragraph (2),
shall establish a grant program at the Department to
support--
(A) cybersecurity research and development; and
(B) demonstration and commercialization of cybersecurity
technology.
(2) Requirements.--
(A) Applicability.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, in carrying out a research, development, demonstration,
or commercial application program or activity that is
authorized under this section, the Secretary shall require
cost sharing in accordance with this paragraph.
(B) Research and development.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), the
Secretary shall require not less than 50 percent of the cost
of a research, development, demonstration, or commercial
application program or activity described in subparagraph (A)
to be provided by a non-Federal source.
(ii) Reduction.--The Secretary may reduce or eliminate, on
a case-by-case basis, the percentage requirement specified in
clause (i) if the Secretary determines that such reduction or
elimination is necessary and appropriate.
(C) Merit review.--In carrying out a research, development,
demonstration, or commercial application program or activity
that is authorized under this section, awards shall be made
only after an impartial review of the scientific and
technical merit of the proposals for such awards has been
carried out by or for the Department.
(D) Review processes.--In carrying out a review under
subparagraph (C), the Secretary may use merit review
processes developed under section 302(14) of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 182(14)).
(3) Eligible applicants.--An applicant shall be eligible to
receive a grant under this subsection if the project of such
applicant--
(A) addresses a requirement in the area of cybersecurity
research or cybersecurity technology, as determined by the
Secretary; and
(B) is a joint venture between--
(i)(I) a for-profit business entity, academic institution,
National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), or nonprofit entity in
the United States; and
(II) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, or
nonprofit entity in Israel; or
(ii)(I) the Federal Government; and
(II) the Government of Israel.
(4) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, an applicant shall submit to the Secretary
an application for such grant in accordance with procedures
established by the Secretary, in consultation with the
advisory board established under paragraph (5).
(5) Advisory board.--
(A) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an
advisory board to--
(i) monitor the method by which grants are awarded under
this subsection; and
(ii) provide to the Secretary periodic performance reviews
of actions taken to carry out this subsection.
(B) Composition.--The advisory board established under
subparagraph (A) shall be composed of three members, to be
appointed by the Secretary, of whom--
(i) one shall be a representative of the Federal
Government;
(ii) one shall be selected from a list of nominees provided
by the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation;
and
(iii) one shall be selected from a list of nominees
provided by the United States-Israel Binational Industrial
Research and Development Foundation.
(6) Contributed funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Secretary may accept or retain funds contributed
by any person, government entity, or organization for
purposes of carrying out this subsection. Such funds shall be
available, subject to appropriation, without fiscal year
limitation.
(7) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
completion of a project for which a grant is provided under
this subsection, the

[[Page H7190]]

grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report that
contains--
(A) a description of how the grant funds were used by the
recipient; and
(B) an evaluation of the level of success of each project
funded by the grant.
(8) Classification.--Grants shall be awarded under this
subsection only for projects that are considered to be
unclassified by both the United States and Israel.
(b) Termination.--The grant program and the advisory board
established under this section terminate on the date that is
7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds
are authorized to carry out the requirements of this section.
Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts
otherwise authorized.
(d) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``cybersecurity research'' means research,
including social science research, into ways to identify,
protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from
cybersecurity threats;
(2) the term ``cybersecurity technology'' means technology
intended to identify, protect against, detect, respond to,
and recover from cybersecurity threats;
(3) the term ``cybersecurity threat'' has the meaning given
such term in section 102 of the Cybersecurity Information
Sharing Act of 2015 (enacted as title I of the Cybersecurity
Act of 2015 (division N of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113)));
(4) the term ``Department'' means the Department of
Homeland Security; and
(5) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland
Security.

SEC. 104. REPORT ON POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND IMPACT TO THE
UNITED STATES OF ESTABLISHING A JOINT UNITED
STATES-ISRAEL CYBERSECURITY CENTER OF
EXCELLENCE.

(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
examining the potential benefits and impact to the United
States of establishing a joint United States-Israel
Cybersecurity Center of Excellence based in the United States
and Israel to leverage the experience, knowledge, and
expertise of institutions of higher education (as such term
is defined in subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), private
sector entities, and government entities in the area of
cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure (as
such term is defined in subsection (e) of section 1016 of the
Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C.
5195c; enacted in title X of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law
20 107-56))).
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

SEC. 105. CYBER DIPLOMACY OFFICER.

The Secretary of State is encouraged to appoint a qualified
individual to assume the role of cyber diplomacy officer at
the United States Embassy in Israel.

SEC. 106. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MEMORANDUM-ISRAEL ENHANCED COOPERATION.

(a) Statement of Policy.--It should be the policy of the
United States Agency for International Development to
cooperate 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 Secretary of State,
acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development, is authorized to enter into
memoranda of understanding with Israel in order to advance
common goals on energy, agriculture and food security,
democracy, human rights and governance, economic growth and
trade, education, environment, global health and water
sanitation with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and
cooperation with nations throughout the world.

SEC. 107. COOPERATIVE PROJECTS AMONG THE UNITED STATES,
ISRAEL, AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

Section 106(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2151d) is amended to read as follows:
``(f) There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to finance
cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and
developing countries that identify and support local
solutions to address sustainability challenges relating to
water resources, agriculture, and energy storage, including
for the following activities:
``(1) Establishing public-private partnerships.
``(2) Supporting the identification, research, development
testing, and scaling of innovations that focus on populations
that are vulnerable to environmental and resource-scarcity
crises, such as subsistence farming communities.
``(3) Seed or transition-to-scale funding, publicity and
marketing promotional support, or mentorship and partnership
brokering support.
``(4) Acceleration of demonstrations or applications of
local solutions to sustainability challenges, or the further
refinement, testing, or implementation of innovations that
have previously effectively addressed sustainability
challenges.''.

SEC. 108. JOINT COOPERATIVE PROGRAM RELATED TO INNOVATION AND
HIGH-TECH FOR THE MIDDLE EAST REGION.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should help foster cooperation in the
Middle East region by financing and, where appropriate,
cooperating in projects related to innovation and high-tech;
and
(2) such projects should--
(A) contribute to development and the quality of life in
the Middle East region through the application of research
and technology; and
(B) contribute to Arab-Israeli cooperation by establishing
strong working relationships that last beyond the life of
such projects.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, acting through
the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, is authorized to seek to establish
a program between the United States, Israel, Egypt, Jordan,
Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip
to provide for cooperation in the Middle East region by
financing and, where appropriate, cooperating in, projects
related to innovation and high-tech.
(c) Project Requirements.--Each project carried out under
the program established by subsection (b)--
(1) shall include participation from at least one entity of
Israel and one entity of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia,
Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip; and
(2) should include participation from a total of three or
more such entities to the maximum extent practicable.

SEC. 109. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ENERGY
COOPERATION.

It is the sense of Congress that cooperation between the
United States and Israel for the purpose of research and
development of energy sources would be in the national
interests of not only the United States and Israel, but also
of the other nations in the Eastern Mediterranean and North
Africa with similar natural gas finds.

SEC. 110. COOPERATION ON OTHER MATTERS.

(a) United States-Israel Energy Center.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy
$4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022
to carry out the activities of the United States-Israel
Energy Center established pursuant to section 917(d) of the
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C.
17337(d)).
(b) United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and
Development Foundation.--It is the sense of Congress that
grants to promote covered energy projects conducted by or in
conjunction with the United States-Israel Binational
Industrial Research and Development Foundation should
continue to be funded at not less than $2,000,000 annually
under section 917(b) of the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)).
(c) United States-Israel Cooperation on Energy, Water,
Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Alternative Fuel
Technologies.--Section 7 of the United States-Israel
Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8606) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and
2022.''.
(d) Annual Policy Dialogue.--It is the sense of Congress
that the Department of Transportation and Israel's Ministry
of Transportation should engage in an annual policy dialogue
to implement the 2016 Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the
Secretary of Transportation and the Israeli Minister of
Transportation.
(e) Cooperation on Space Exploration and Science
Initiatives.--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.
(f) United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research
and Development Fund.--
(1) In general.--Section 1458(e)(2) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(e)(2)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) include food and nutrition research and development
and the commercialization of the best practices identified
through such research and development.''.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out subparagraph (C) of section
1458(e)(2) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act

[[Page H7191]]

of 1977, as added by paragraph (1)(C), $7,000,000 for each of
the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
(3) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
on activities of the United States-Israel Binational
Agricultural Research and Development Fund under section
1458(e) of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3291(e)).
(B) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
paragraph, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives; and
(ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
(g) Research and Development Cooperation Relating to
Desalination Technology.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the White House Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on research and development
cooperation with international partners, such as the State of
Israel, in the area of desalination technology as required
under section 9(b)(3) of the Water Desalination Act of 1996
(42 U.S.C. 10301 note).
(2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(h) Research and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs should seek to explore collaboration between
the Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers
and Centers of Excellence and Israeli institutions with
expertise in researching and treating posttraumatic stress
disorder.
(i) Development of Health Technologies.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of Health and Human Services $2,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022 to establish a
bilateral cooperative program with Israel for the development
of health technologies, including health technologies
described in paragraph (2), with an emphasis on
collaboratively advancing the use of technology, personalized
medicine, and data in relation to aging.
(2) Types of health technologies.--The health technologies
described in this paragraph may include technologies such as
artificial intelligence, biofeedback, sensors, monitoring
devices, and kidney care.
(j) Office of International Programs of the Food and Drug
Administration.--
(1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration should seek
to explore collaboration with Israel through the Office of
International Programs.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner, acting through
the head of the Office of International Programs, shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
on the benefits to the United States and to Israel of opening
an office in Israel for the Office of International Programs.
(B) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
paragraph, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
(k) Sense of Congress on United States-Israel Economic
Cooperation.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States-Israel economic partnership has
achieved great tangible and intangible benefits to both
countries and is a foundational component of the strong
alliance;
(2) science and technology innovations present promising
new frontiers for United States-Israel economic cooperation,
particularly in light of widespread drought, cybersecurity
attacks, and other major challenges impacting the United
States; and
(3) the President should regularize and expand existing
forums of economic dialogue with Israel and foster both
public and private sector participation.

TITLE II--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL

SEC. 201. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel
signed a 10-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.
(2) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflected United
States support of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant
assistance to Israel over the 10-year period beginning in
fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028. Such FMF
grant assistance would equal $3.3 billion annually, totaling
$33 billion.
(3) The 2016 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 10-year period beginning in
fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028 at a level of
$500 million annually, totaling $5 billion.

SEC. 202. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States to provide assistance
to the Government of Israel in order to help enable Israel to
defend itself by itself and develop long-term capacity,
primarily through the acquisition of advanced capabilities
that are available from the United States.

SEC. 203. CONTINGENCY PLANS TO PROVIDE ISRAEL WITH NECESSARY
DEFENSE ARTICLES AND SERVICES.

(a) In General.--The President, acting through the
Secretary of Defense and in consultation with the Secretary
of State, shall establish and update as appropriate
contingency plans to provide Israel with defense articles and
services that are determined by the Secretary of Defense to
be necessary for the defense of Israel.
(b) Congressional Briefing.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with
the Secretary of State, shall brief the appropriate
congressional committees on the status of the contingency
plans required under subsection (a).

SEC. 204. WAIVER FOR EXISTING OR IMMINENT MILITARY THREAT TO
ISRAEL.

Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(l) Waiver for Existing or Imminent Military Threat to
Israel.--
``(1) In general.--Upon receiving information that Israel
is under an existing or imminent threat of military attack,
the President may waive the requirements of this Act and
direct the immediate transfer to Israel of such defense
articles or services the President determines to be necessary
to assist Israel in its defense against such threat. Amounts
obligated or expended to carry out this paragraph shall not
be subject to any limitation in law, or provision of any
bilateral agreement, relating to the amount of United States
assistance authorized to be made available to Israel.
``(2) Notification required.--As soon as practicable after
a transfer of defense articles or services pursuant to the
authority provided by paragraph (1), the President shall
provide a notification in writing to Congress of the details
of such transfer, consistent with the requirements of section
36 of this Act.''.

SEC. 205. SECURITY 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 ``2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``equal to--'' and all
that follows and inserting ``not less than $3,300,000,000.'';
and
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Funds authorized'' and
all that follows through ``later.'' and inserting ``Funds
authorized to be available for Israel under subsection (b)(1)
and paragraph (1) of this subsection for fiscal years 2020,
2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 shall be disbursed not later than
30 days after the date of the enactment of an Act making
appropriations for the Department of State, foreign
operations, and related programs for the respective fiscal
year, or October 31 of the respective fiscal year, whichever
is later.''.

SEC. 206. JOINT ASSESSMENT OF QUANTITY OF PRECISION GUIDED
MUNITIONS FOR USE BY ISRAEL.

(a) In General.--The President, acting through the
Secretary of Defense and in consultation with the Secretary
of State, 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 planning to assist Israel to prepare for
the sustained armed confrontations described in paragraphs
(1) and (2) as well as the ability of the United States to
resupply Israel in the event of such 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 Secretary of Defense shall submit to the

[[Page H7192]]

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. 207. 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 to Israel precision guided munitions
from reserve stocks for Israel in such quantities as
necessary for legitimate self-defense of Israel and is
otherwise consistent with the purposes and conditions for
such transfers under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C.
2751 et seq.).
(b) Certification.--Except in the case of an emergency as
determined by the President, not later than 5 days before
making a transfer under subsection (a), the President shall
certify 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. 208. 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. 209. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.

(a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005.--
Subsection (d) of section 12001 of the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011)
is amended by striking ``after September 30, 2020'' and
inserting ``after September 30, 2025''.
(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, 2018, 2019, and 2020'' and inserting ``2020,
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025''.

SEC. 210. ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAEL FOR THE STRATEGIC TRADE
AUTHORIZATION EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN EXPORT
CONTROL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(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 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
(B) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear
Material, adopted at Vienna on 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, re-export, 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 to include Israel 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 section, as required under 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
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified
annex.

SEC. 211. 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, 2020'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025'';
and
(2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30,
2020'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.

SEC. 212. DEFINITION.

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

TITLE III--JUSTICE FOR UNITED STATES VICTIMS OF PALESTINIAN TERRORISM

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Justice for United States
Victims of Palestinian Terrorism Act''.

SEC. 302. FACILITATION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF TERRORISM-RELATED
CLAIMS OF NATIONALS OF THE UNITED STATES.

(a) Comprehensive Process To Facilitate the Resolution of
Anti-Terrorism Act Claims.--The Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Attorney General, shall, not later than
30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, develop and
initiate a comprehensive process for the Department of State
to facilitate the resolution and settlement of covered
claims.
(b) Elements of Comprehensive Process.--The comprehensive
process developed under subsection (a) shall include, at a
minimum, the following:
(1) Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Department of State shall publish a notice in
the Federal Register identifying the method by which a
national of the United States, or a representative of a
national of the United States, who has a covered claim, may
contact the Department of State to give notice of the covered
claim.
(2) Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State, or a designee of the
Secretary, shall meet (and make every effort to continue to
meet on a regular basis thereafter) with any national of the
United States, or a representative of a national of the
United States, who has a covered claim and has informed the
Department of State of the covered claim using the method
established pursuant to paragraph (1) to discuss the status
of the covered claim, including the status of any settlement
discussions with the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine
Liberation Organization.
(3) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State, or a designee of the
Secretary, shall make every effort to meet (and make every
effort to continue to meet on a regular basis thereafter)
with representatives of the Palestinian Authority and the
Palestine Liberation Organization to discuss the covered
claims identified pursuant to paragraph (1) and potential
settlement of the covered claims.
(c) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of State shall, not
later than 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter for 5 years, submit to the Committee
on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
a report describing activities that the Department of State
has undertaken to comply with this section, including
specific updates regarding paragraphs (2) and (3) of
subsection (b).
(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) covered claims should be resolved in a manner that
provides just compensation to the victims;
(2) covered claims should be resolved and settled in favor
of the victim to the fullest extent possible and without
subjecting victims to unnecessary or protracted litigation;
(3) the United States Government should take all
practicable steps to facilitate the resolution and settlement
of all covered claims, including engaging directly with the
victims or their representatives and the Palestinian
Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization; and
(4) the United States Government should strongly urge the
Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation
Organization to commit to good-faith negotiations to resolve
and settle all covered claims.
(e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``covered
claim'' means any pending action by, or final judgment in
favor of, a national of the United States, or any action by a
national of the United States dismissed for lack of personal
jurisdiction, under section 2333 of title 18, United States
Code, against the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine
Liberation Organization.

SEC. 303. MODIFICATION TO CONSENT OF CERTAIN PARTIES TO
PERSONAL JURISDICTION.

(a) Amendment to Title 18.--Section 2334 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection
(e)(1) and inserting the following:
``(A) beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date
of enactment of this subparagraph, makes, renews, promotes,
or advances any application in order to obtain the same
standing as a member state in the United Nations or any
specialized agency thereof, or accepts such standing, outside
an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians;
or
``(B) beginning on the date that is 15 days after the date
of enactment of the Justice for United States Victims of
Palestinian Terrorism Act--
``(i) continues to maintain any office, headquarters,
premises, or other facilities or establishments in the United
States; or
``(ii) establishes or procures any office, headquarters,
premises, or other facilities or establishments in the United
States.''; and
(2) And by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Defendant defined.--For purposes of paragraph (1) of
this subsection, the term `defendant' means--

[[Page H7193]]

``(A) the Palestinian Authority;
``(B) the Palestine Liberation Organization;
``(C) any organization or other entity that is a successor
to or affiliated with the Palestinian Authority or the
Palestine Liberation Organization; or
``(D) any organization or other entity--
``(i) identified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C); and
``(ii) that self-identifies as, holds itself out to be, or
carries out conduct in the name of, the `State of Palestine'
or `Palestine' in connection with official business of the
United Nations.
``(4) Exception for certain activities and locations.--In
determining whether a defendant shall be deemed to have
consented to personal jurisdiction under paragraph (1)(B), a
court may not consider--
``(A) any office, headquarters, premises or other facility
or establishment used exclusively for the purpose of
conducting official business of the United Nations; or
``(B) any activity undertaken exclusively for the purpose
of conducting official business of the United Nations.
``(5) Rule of construction.--Notwithstanding any other law
(including any treaty), any office, headquarters, premises,
or other facility or establishment within the territory of
the United States that is not specifically exempted by
paragraph (4)(A) shall be considered to be in the United
States for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph
(1)(B).''.
(b) Prior Consent Not Abrogated.--The amendments made by
this section do not abrogate any consent deemed to have been
given under section 2334(e) of title 18, United States Code,
as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this
Act.

TITLE IV--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

SEC. 401. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

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

General Leave

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 1837.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the United States-Israel
Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act.
I want to start by thanking Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson for their
extraordinary leadership in crafting this measure. This is another
piece of bipartisan legislation that underscores the vitality and
bipartisanship of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
The centerpiece of this bill is a provision that writes into law the
10-year memorandum of understanding President Obama signed with Israel
before he left office. The legislation also enhances U.S.-Israel
cooperation on a wide range of issues, from helping veterans confront
issues with PTSD, to advancing space cooperation, to developing new
ways to get clean water.
In addition, the bill advances other critical priorities. It helps
ensure that the families of American victims of terrorism will get
their day in court, so they can finally see some justice after their
loved ones were so cruelly taken from them. And it includes a legal fix
that will restore U.S. assistance to Palestinians that has been cut off
in recent months.
When I traveled to the West Bank in May, I saw the impacts of this
funding cut firsthand. I visited a water treatment system in Jericho
that is ready to go into place, already paid for by the United States
but, because of legislation Congress passed last year, they can't take
the tiny extra step needed to get it up and running.
We also met with people seeking to enhance tolerance and
understanding between Palestinians and Israelis, exactly the sort of
peace-building efforts we should be supporting, unlike the BDS
movement. These have all had to stop work due to the assistance cut.
In addition, I met with American military officials who are deeply
concerned about the suspension of security assistance to the
Palestinians and the implications of that for Israel's security. So I
am pleased that the legislation before us today provides a fix for this
unsustainable situation.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two pieces that argue that we
must restore this assistance now.

[From The Hill, Jan. 28, 2019]

Congress Must Move Quickly To Fix the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act

(By Debra Shushan)

In a perversely ironic turn, a law intended to aid American
victims of international terrorist attacks will strike a
serious blow to counterterrorism cooperation that keeps
Israelis (and Americans visiting Israel) safe.
The Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (ATCA) will take
effect on February 1. Unless it is adequately amended or
repealed before then, the law will damage Israeli national
security and U.S. foreign policy toward the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. Time is short, and Congress must take
action.
ATCA was passed with little fanfare, by unanimous consent
in the House and Senate, and apparently absent an
understanding of its foreign policy implications. The law's
aim is to assist American victims of international terrorism
in securing, through U.S. courts, monetary damages from
entities alleged to have aided and abetted terrorist attacks.
It was the outcome of lawsuits against the Palestinian
Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), like
Waldman v. PLO, that drove the most consequential provision
in ATCA. In Waldman, a district court awarded the plaintiff
$655.5 million (triple the damages suffered), only to have a
circuit court rule on appeal that the court lacked personal
jurisdiction over the PLO. To address this perceived flaw,
Section 4 of ATCA stipulates that a defendant consents to
personal jurisdiction if it accepts the types of aid the U.S.
government has given the PA: most importantly, economic
support funds (ESF) and international narcotics control and
law enforcement (INCLE) aid.
Recognizing that future acceptance of U.S. assistance could
bankrupt the Palestinian Authority through litigation,
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah informed Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo that the Palestinian Authority will
decline U.S. aid when ATCA takes effect. Comparing the $665
million judgement in Waldman (equivalent to 13 percent of the
Palestinian Authority's 2018 budget) to $60 million in
security funding it receives from the U.S., its decision was
obviously inevitable.
So, ATCA will not achieve its purpose of enabling terror
victims to collect money from the Palestinian Authority or
PLO through litigation. Since the Palestinian Authority has
foresworn U.S. aid, courts still won't have personal
jurisdiction over it.
Meanwhile, ATCA will harm Israeli security, given an end to
INCLE funding for the Palestinian Authority and the
termination of the U.S. Security Coordinator. Under U.S.
supervision since 2005, the Palestinian Authority Security
Forces (PASF) have transformed into a professional and
effective entity that works closely with Israel to maintain
law and order in Palestinian cities and foil terrorism.
Israeli security chiefs are unequivocal about the importance
of this security coordination. In remarks, to the Israeli
cabinet earlier this month, outgoing Israeli army chief of
staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot urged the government to
strengthen the PASF. Belatedly, the Israeli government has
weighed in with the Trump administration, asking for an ATCA
fix to preserve security coordination, ``a top priority
Israeli national security interest.''
ATCA will also undermine U.S. foreign policy vis-a-vis the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Neither President Trump nor
subsequent presidents will be able to use aid as a tool to
facilitate future Palestinian-Israeli peace. Meanwhile, as
the U.S. Agency for International Development prepares to lay
off local staff and abandon nearly completed infrastructure
projects in the West Bank, the Palestinian people will
suffer. American interests are harmed, too, when worsening
Palestinian quality of life fosters extremism and a hardening
of attitudes toward the U.S. and Israel.
Compounding its deleterious impact, ATCA may apply to
foreign states, impacting allies in the Middle East (think of
Egypt and Jordan) and beyond. It could also apply to
humanitarian NGOs.
Members of Congress are working with the Trump
administration on a fix. A number of options are available.
The best choice is revocation of Section 4, which triggered
this crisis while failing to help terrorist attack victims. A
national security waiver for the President is another
possibility. It is suboptimal since President Trump slashed
ESF funding to Palestinians before ATCA and appears unlikely
to reinstate it, though a future president could. Exempting
only INCLE funding is better than nothing, but would transmit
the message to Palestinians that the U.S. cares only about
Israeli security and not their welfare. (They are
complementary; we must care about both.)
If Congress cannot engineer a fix by January 31--a real
danger, even likelihood--Congress must at minimum delay
ATCA's implementation. This time bomb is ticking, and if

[[Page H7194]]

Congress can't defuse ATCA in time, it must at least reset
the clock.
____

[From NPR, Jan. 31, 2019]

Opinion: Here's Why U.S. Aid to Palestinians Needs To Continue

(By Dana Stroul, Daniel B. Shapiro)

Is U.S. assistance to the Palestinians an indulgence we can
do without? Will its elimination leave Israelis, Palestinians
and U.S. interests better off? Unless Congress and the Trump
administration act quickly, we are about to find out.
Since 1993, the United States has provided more than $5
billion in assistance to the West Bank and Gaza. This
generous program continued across Republican and Democratic
administrations, with bipartisan Congressional support,
despite ups and downs in the peace process, spikes and drops
in violence and frustrations in Washington and Jerusalem with
Palestinian leaders.
But the whole enterprise is now in jeopardy.
First, the Trump Administration cut the entire fiscal year
2017 economic aid program for the West Bank and Gaza and
looks likely to do the same for fiscal 2018. Now the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) mission, with no
money to spend, is on the verge of closing down, leaving
ongoing projects uncompleted.
Next, the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act, which exposes
the Palestinian Authority to legal action in U.S. courts if
it accepts any U.S. assistance funds, comes into force on
Feb. 1.
The ATCA's passage last year prompted Palestinian Authority
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (who resigned Tuesday) to
inform Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a late-December
letter that the Palestinian Authority will no longer accept
any U.S. assistance. If carried out, that will end U.S.
assistance for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces, the
deliberately under-the-radar and largely successful U.S.
effort to develop these forces and facilitate effective
security coordination with Israel in the West Bank.
It will also eliminate the role of the U.S. security
coordinator, a three-star general who oversees the training
of the security forces and serves as a liaison between
Israeli and Palestinian security officials.
Thus far, there has been minimal debate in Washington over
the implications of these developments on stability in the
West Bank and Gaza and the inextricable link to Israel's
security. Nor has there been a sober reckoning of the very
real implications for U.S. influence.
It's easy to be cavalier about these programs, considering
the moribund peace process, Palestinian leaders who lack
legitimacy with much of the U.S. public, and bouts of
violence. But members of Congress, including many of Israel's
strongest supporters on both sides of the aisle, have long
understood their value.
While oversight has been rigorous, funding for Palestinian
assistance programs has always flowed with bipartisan support
because it was determined to reinforce Israel's security and
provide a measure of U.S. leverage and influence.
This logic was ratified by the support of the Israeli
government for these programs. Israeli authorities understood
that a breakdown in security, an economic collapse or a
humanitarian crisis in the West Bank would place an enormous
burden on Israel. A crisis in the West Bank could require the
Israel Defense Forces to redeploy personnel from other high-
risk areas like the Lebanon border or the Golan Heights.
Moreover, U.S. assistance has sustained lines of contact
with Palestinian officials. During flare-ups and crises, this
connective tissue has placed the U.S. in a position to defuse
situations when direct Israeli-Palestinian engagement was too
difficult. U.S. Security Coordinator Lt. Gen. Eric Wendt and
his predecessors have at times been the only American
officials able to bridge both sides in moments of high
tension.
The current funding crisis runs contrary to clearly
expressed Congressional intent. Last year, large bipartisan
majorities passed the Taylor Force Act, which, by withholding
some U.S. aid, aimed to compel the Palestinian Authority to
end, among other things, its practice of providing payments
to families of convicted Palestinian terrorists. But Congress
also voted resoundingly to maintain key elements of
assistance, including humanitarian aid, people-to-people
programs, medical services and other programming with no
direct connection to the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli government, for its part, was clear in its
support for the Taylor Force Act's intent of ending U.S.
assistance that could even indirectly subsidize the
Palestinian Authority's payments to terrorists' families. But
there was never Israeli support for curtailing the accounts
Congress protected programs acknowledged to maintain a
modicum of stability in the West Bank and prevent a full-
scale humanitarian crisis in either the West Bank or Gaza.
In other words, the Taylor Force Act's passage underscored
bipartisan Congressional support for continuing U.S.
assistance to the Palestinians. Trump officials, who took an
axe to the entire program, citing the Taylor Force Act, have
misinterpreted the meaning of the law.
The Israeli national security establishment remains
painfully aware that it will face the burden--financial,
security, and otherwise--of addressing a full-scale collapse
in the West Bank or Gaza if the U.S. steps away or loses all
influence and credibility with the Palestinians. And if they
lose cooperation with the Palestinian security forces,
Israeli security forces will find themselves in the far worse
position of needing to directly intervene to confront
security threats in Palestinian-populated areas, rather than
working through the U.S.-funded multilateral construct.
If all parties remain stuck on the current course, the
biggest losers will be innocent Palestinian civilians and
Israel. The winners are those benefiting from instability and
the opportunity to point to the U.S. as unreliable and in
retreat from the Middle East: Hamas, other assorted
terrorists and Iran.
To reverse the current course, here are some steps that the
administration and Congress should urgently undertake:

Fix the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act

A straightforward legislative fix is low-hanging fruit.
Congressional and administration staff recognize that ending
U.S. security assistance to the Palestinian security forces
only helps adversaries and empowers enemies. In recent days,
Israel belatedly added its voice, making clear it wants U.S.
aid to the PASF to continue. In fact, Congress and the
administration should go further and seize the opportunity in
this crisis to permanently protect U.S. security assistance
to the Palestinian security forces.

Mitigate damage

Walking away from ongoing USAID projects in the West Bank
and Gaza--unfinished roads, incomplete water projects, and
piecemeal humanitarian and education programs--is a total
waste of U.S. taxpayer dollars. Such visible reminders of
U.S. abandonment will also inflame local sentiment against
the United States. Congress should authorize and explicitly
appropriate funds to complete these projects, following a
thorough review of the status of U.S. programs in the West
Bank and Gaza.

Pass positive legislative alternatives

Even if traditional assistance programs remain blocked,
there are creative legislative proposals that preserve space
for U.S. influence and enjoy bipartisan support. The
Palestinian Partnership Fund Act, introduced in the last
Congress, promotes economic development by connecting
Palestinian entrepreneurs and companies with counterparts in
the U.S., Israel, and the Middle East. An International Fund
for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, long advocated by the
nonpartisan Alliance for Middle East Peace, has enjoyed
bipartisan support in past Congresses and would promote
people-to-people peace-building activities by pooling funding
from government and private sources. Now is the time for
Congress to approve funding for it.

Urge Israeli clarification on U.S. assistance

Members of Congress naturally seek Israel's views on the
security and economic consequences of completely shutting
down U.S. assistance programs to the Palestinians. But during
the Trump administration, the answers have been murky. After
Israel's election in April, Congress should urgently seek a
clear picture of the new government's views, as members
continue to vote on this much-debated set of issues.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, this is a strong bipartisan bill that
advances the U.S.-Israel relationship. I, again, want to thank
Representatives Deutch and Wilson for their leadership, as well as all
the other Members who contributed to this fine piece of legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 18, 2019.
Hon. Peter A. DeFazio,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman DeFazio: I write in reply to your letter
regarding H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation
Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your
willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure and that your Committee will forgo action on
H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further agree
that your Committee's inaction regarding the bill will not
waive any future jurisdictional claims over matters addressed
in H.R. 1837 which fall within your Committee's Rule X
jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of
Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure conferees
during any House-Senate conference convened on this
legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
include in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.

[[Page H7195]]

____
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of
Representatives,
Washington, DC, July 17, 2019.
Hon. Eliot Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Engel: I write concerning H.R. 1837, the United
States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security
Act. There are certain provisions in this legislation that
fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure.
In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 1837, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure agrees to
forgo action on the bill. However, this is conditional on our
mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill
would not prejudice the Committee with respect to the
appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional
claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or
similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X
jurisdiction. I also request that you urge the Speaker to
name members of this Committee to any conference committee
which is named to consider such provisions.
Please place a copy of this letter and your response
acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee
report on H.R. 1837, and into the Congressional Record during
consideration of the measure on the House floor.
Sincerely,
Peter A. DeFazio,
Chair.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space and Technology, House
of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairwoman Johnson: I am writing to you concerning
H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement
and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to
work cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space and
Technology under House Rule X and that your Committee will
forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I
further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with
respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional
claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within
your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of
Committee on Science, Space and Technology conferees during
any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology,
Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Chairman Eliot Engel,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1837, the ``United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act,'' which was sequentially referred to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (``Science
Committee'') on March 21, 2019.
I agree to work cooperatively on this bill and the Science
Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837, in order to
expedite floor consideration. This is, however, not a waiver
of future jurisdictional claims by the Science Committee over
this subject matter.
Thank you for agreeing to include our exchange of letters
in the Congressional Record. Additionally, thank you for
agreeing to support the appointment of Science Committee
conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this
legislation,
Sincerely,
Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Collin C. Peterson,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Peterson: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work
cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture under House Rule
X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to
expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the
inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not
waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters
contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I
will also support the appointment of Committee on Agriculture
conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this
legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC, July 22, 2019.
Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman. Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel: Thank you for the opportunity to
review the relevant provisions of H.R. 1837, the United
States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security
Act. While the bill was primarily referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, the Agriculture Committee received an
additional referral.
I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this
legislation before the House in an expeditious manner, and
accordingly, I agree to discharge H.R.1837 from further
consideration by the Committee on Agriculture. I do so with
the understanding that by discharging the bill, the Committee
on Agriculture does not waive any future jurisdictional claim
on this or similar matters. Further, the Committee on
Agriculture reserves the right to seek the appointment of
conferees, if it should be necessary.
I ask that you inset a copy of our exchange of letters into
both the Congressional Record and the Committee Report during
consideration of this measure on the House floor.
Thank you for your courtesy in this matter. I look forward
to continued cooperation between our respective committees.
Sincerely.
Collin C. Peterson,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Pallone: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work
cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce under
Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R.
1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge
that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill
does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the
matters contained in the bill that fall within your
jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of
Committee on Energy and Commerce conferees during any House-
Senate conference convened on this legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Eliot Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act, as amended, which was additionally
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of
H.R. 1837, the Committee on Energy and Commerce agrees to
waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that
fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce. The Committee takes this action with the
mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction
over the subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately
consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation
moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues
within our jurisdiction. I also request that you support my
request to name members of the Committee on Energy and
Commerce to any conference committee to consider such
provisions.
Finally, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter in
the report on the bill and into the Congressional Record
during floor consideration of H.R. 1837.
Sincerely,
Frank Pallone, Jr.,
Chairman.

[[Page H7196]]

____
House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work
cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House
Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R.
1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge
that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill
does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the
matters contained in the bill that fall within your
jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of
Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-Senate
conference convened on this legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Eliot Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel: This is to advise you that the
Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to
review the provisions in H.R. 1837, the ``United States-
Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act,''
that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your
consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary
Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill
for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that
consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 1837, with
the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future
jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject
matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar
legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the
right to request an appropriate number of conferees to
address any concerns with these or similar provisions that
may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record
during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank
you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked
regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Mark Takano,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Takano: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work
cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs under
House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on
H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further
acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect
to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim
over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your
jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of
Committee on Veterans' Affairs conferees during any House-
Senate conference convened on this legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 22, 2019.
Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837,
the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional
Security Act. As a result of your having consulted with us on
provisions within H.R. 1837 that fall within the jurisdiction
of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I forego further
consideration of this bill so that it may proceed
expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs takes this action with
our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of
H.R. 1837 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over
subject matter contained in this or similar legislation and
that our committee will be appropriately consulted and
involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so
that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction.
Further, I request your support for the appointment of
conferees from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs during any
House-Senate conference convened on this or related
legislation.
Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R.
1837 and into the Congressional Record during consideration
of the measure on the House floor to memorialize our
understanding. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which
you have worked regarding this matter and others between our
respective committees.
Sincerely,
Mark Takano,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, July 19, 2019.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work
cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security under
House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on
H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further
acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect
to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim
over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your
jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of
Committee on Homeland Security conferees during any House-
Senate conference convened on this legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, July 22, 2019.
Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel: I write to you regarding H.R. 1837,
the ``United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and
Regional Security Act.''
H.R. 1837 contains provisions that fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security. I
recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this
legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and,
accordingly, I will not seek a sequential referral of the
bill. However, agreeing to waive consideration of this bill
should not be construed as the Committee on Homeland Security
waiving, altering, or otherwise affecting its jurisdiction
over subject matters contained in the bill which fall within
its Rule X jurisdiction.
Further, I request your support for the appointment of
Homeland Security conferees during any House-Senate
conference convened on this or similar legislation. I also
ask that a copy of this letter and your response be included
in the legislative report on H.R. 1837 and in the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill.
I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass
this important legislation.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1837, the United
States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, of
which I am a cosponsor.
The United States-Israel partnership is a two-way street. We work
together to further our shared values and interests. We already
collaborate on a wide range of civil issues, such as energy and
agriculture; and our security cooperation helps keep both of our
countries safe as we counter threats from a wide range of terrorist
groups, as well as from Iran. But still there is much more that we can
do together.
I want to thank Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson for this comprehensive,
bipartisan update to the United States-Israel partnership to confront
the challenges both countries face in 2019 and beyond.
H.R. 1837 expands our mutually-beneficial cooperation, identifying
several new or growing areas of cooperation where we can exchange
innovations and help improve the lives and livelihoods of our people as
well as our respective national interests.
Through this bill, the United States and Israel will be better-
positioned to

[[Page H7197]]

cooperate on critical fields like research and development, directed
energy, cybersecurity, international development and foreign
assistance, treating post-traumatic stress disorder, and developing
health technologies.
In terms of our security partnership with Israel, the bill authorizes
U.S. foreign military financing to Israel at $3.3 billion per year
through 2024, the same levels agreed to in the 2016 U.S.-Israel
memorandum. It reauthorizes United States loan guarantees and extends
War Reserves Stockpile Authority for Israel.
H.R. 1837 also codifies policies to ensure that the United States can
transfer precision-guided munitions and other defense articles to
Israel quickly in the event of an emergency.
We all know that Israel faces threats on multiple fronts, from Iran,
from Hezbollah, Hamas, and others. These adversaries aren't going to
call ahead in the event of an escalation. We need to be prepared with
the appropriate authorities to ensure that if Israel is facing a
protracted or multifront conflict, that the United States can help.
Mr. Speaker, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Smith), my good friend, and I would ask unanimous
consent that he be allowed to control that time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for
yielding. I yield myself 2 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong support for H.R. 1837, the
U.S.-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act,
supported and introduced by Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson. I thank them for
their leadership, as well as Eliot Engel and Michael McCaul, our
ranking member.
Israel is by far our closest ally in the Middle East with which we
share common values, including a commitment to democracy and to the
rule of law.
Sadly, Israel often comes under attack, at the United Nations and in
the region, both by words and by bullets. Israel is judged by a double
standard by which real or imagined flaws are magnified, while Israel's
virtues as a robust democracy are ignored.
Mr. Speaker, we must stand with Israel, and this bill is a means to
achieve that. Among other things, it would authorize--and this is the
core of the bill--it would authorize military financing for Israel at
$3.3 billion per year, over 10 years, and enhanced cooperation with our
key ally in a host of other areas from cybersecurity, to agriculture,
to assisting veterans.
It is mutually beneficial, allowing us to access Israel's knowledge
and to benefit from its leadership in sectors such as desalinization
technology, which has helped make the desert bloom, one of the most
visually-evident ways Israel has positively impacted the land.
The bill encourages energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean
which, presumably, includes ongoing ventures with friendly countries,
such as Greece and Cyprus. In short, the bill greatly enhances the
mutually-beneficial ties which exist between our two great nations.
This is a good piece of legislation. It is bipartisan, and I strongly
urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Deutch), a valuable member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, author of this important bill, and chairman of the Middle
East, North Africa, and International Terrorism Subcommittee.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Engel for yielding the
time.
I rise today in support of H.R. 1837, the U.S.-Israel Cooperation
Enhancement and Regional Security Act.
I thank Chairman Engel for his support of this legislation, as well
as Ranking Member McCaul, and I am especially grateful to my friend,
Congressman Joe Wilson, for introducing this bill with me. I also
thank the 289 bipartisan cosponsors of this bill.
Today, we send a clear message that bipartisan support for the U.S.-
Israel relationship, for the security and civilian cooperation between
our countries, and for the ties between the American and Israeli
people, remains strong and unwavering.
Today, we vote to strengthen and enhance this relationship, while
also providing victims of terrorism a rightful path to justice and
restoring much-needed assistance which contributes to security and
saves the lives of Israelis and Palestinians.
The security provisions in this bill reinforces the ways in which the
U.S. guarantees Israel's right and ability to defend herself against
any and all threats, in turn, contributing to our own national security
interests in the region.
By codifying the 2016 10-year memorandum of understanding, we advance
security and stability in a volatile region. But just as our alliance
with Israel is about more than just security, this bill is about more
than just security as well.
Our bond with Israel is rooted in our shared values. Just like this
country, Israel is a vibrant democracy where political parties from
right to left vigorously debate and disagree on politics and policy.
This bill enhances nonsecurity cooperation between our two nations;
cooperation that has yielded impactful and tangible results around the
globe in areas like energy, and water, cybersecurity, health, and
agriculture.
It authorizes the United States and Israel to work together on
humanitarian and development programs in developing countries; and it
expands the work that Israel, the Palestinians, and other Arab states
can do together to promote scientific and technological advancement and
contribute to lasting regional stability.
And finally, this legislation provides a long-awaited path to justice
for victims of Palestinian terrorism.
Last year, Congress passed the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act,
which was meant to do just that. Unfortunately, that legislation has
not yielded the intended results and, instead, created unintended
foreign policy consequences.
As a result, the Palestinian Authority refused to accept any U.S.
assistance to the West Bank in Gaza, halting humanitarian programs run
by international NGOs, and even our own USAID programming could not
continue. The very real impact of these cuts has been felt on the
ground.
I recently led a bipartisan group of Members to visit a hospital in
East Jerusalem that provides some of the only cancer treatments to
Palestinians in the West Bank. That hospital has lost 25 percent of its
funding.
Also affected was U.S. funding for the training of Palestinian
Security Forces. These forces cooperate with the Israeli Defense Forces
to keep Israelis and Palestinians safe. This program, run by a U.S.
General, saves Palestinian lives and Israeli lives, and it is currently
not receiving funding.
Mr. Speaker, we have a moral obligation to ensure that Americans
injured or, even worse, killed by terrorism have a right to seek
justice in our courts. We have a moral obligation, as well, to provide
lifesaving assistance for those in need. And while this bill represents
a compromise, I believe it will achieve both of these goals.
Today, we cast a vote to expand relations with one of our closest
allies; a relationship that is broad and deep; that highlights the
positive impact the United States and Israel can have in so many
critical areas when we work together; when we harness our mutual
appreciation for science and education and technology; and when we work
to advance security in the region.
We do all of these because we know that whatever the politics and
personalities, we are stronger as a Nation when we stand together with
our ally, Israel, in support of security, peace, and democracy.
I urge my colleagues to stand with me today and to support this good
piece of legislation.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).
Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I think this is a
very important bill, and I am proud to support H.R. 1837, the United
States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, that
will make our bilateral security and economic cooperation stronger and
more stable than ever before.

[[Page H7198]]

On September 14 of 2016, the U.S. and Israel signed a memorandum of
understanding ensuring $33 billion of military and strategic support
over a 10-year period.

{time} 1630

It reaffirmed the importance of continuing annual U.S. military
assistance to Israel, our cooperative missile defense programs, in
addition to other shared economic and technology interests.
The bill before us codifies that assistance for the next 10 years,
while providing us with the flexibility to increase that support should
Israel be under an imminent threat of a military attack.
It strengthens Israel's qualitative military edge and advances our
collaboration on a range of issues, such as cybersecurity and space
exploration, as well as authorizing $12 million for the U.S.-Israel
Energy Center and, through USAID, advances our common goals of
promoting agriculture, education, and trade with other countries around
the world.
As our strongest and most capable ally in a turbulent region, Israel
is an essential U.S. strategic partner.
Israel is also a target for hostile actors who call for her
destruction. Just 2 months ago, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas
terrorist groups launched over 600 rockets and mortars at Israeli
civilian targets, killing four and wounding eight. May was Israel's
deadliest month in almost 2 years.
In addition to the threat coming from these terrorist groups, Israel
faces a threat of a resurgent Iran, whose militias and proxies, from
Iraq to Syria to Lebanon, continue to grow in numbers, weapons, and
strength.
Just recently, Chairman Deutch and I heard firsthand from Prime
Minister Netanyahu some of these complex and serious existential
challenges that seek to undermine our strategic ally.
Mr. Speaker, it is now more important than ever that the United
States stand with the democratic Jewish State of Israel and what she
represents, which is freedom, democracy, and equality in that region.
For that, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume to close.
I want to, first of all, thank the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss
Gonzalez-Colon) for her very eloquent statement and for her deep
concern for the State of Israel. I thank her for that leadership.
I would also like to thank, in closing, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Wilson,
Chairman Engel, Ranking Member McCaul, and the Foreign Affairs
Committee membership for their bipartisan work, and the staff, to
ensure that the United States and Israel can work together to respond
to shared challenges.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Schneider).
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1837, the
United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act.
Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East, and we work jointly
in a number of strategic areas. This bill strengthens our partnership
and expands important economic, scientific, and security cooperation
between the United States and Israel.
This bill also encourages the United States to designate a new
coordinator of U.S.-Israel research and development and establishes a
grant program on cybersecurity development. It authorizes R&D on
issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, agriculture, and the
development of health technologies, as well as vital security
assistance in accordance with the 2016 MOU.
It also provides an important fix that ensures a path to justice for
American victims of terrorism and retains our ability to provide vital
assistance that promotes security and stability for both Israelis and
Palestinians.
I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson, for
their leadership on this important bipartisan bill.
I urge all my colleagues to vote on this bill.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for
the purpose of closing.
The United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional
Security Act is an excellent bipartisan bill designed to further
strengthen the relationship between Israel and the United States, give
American victims their day in court, and restore assistance to the
Palestinians.
I strongly support this bill. I urge all Members to join me in doing
so. Again, this is a bipartisan bill showing, again, the strong support
that the United States and Israel have for each other.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1837, 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.

____________________