[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3400-S3402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1895. Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Risch, and Mr.
Menendez) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the
bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XII of division A, add the following:
Subtitle H--United States-Israel Security Assistance
SEC. 1290. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``United States-Israel
Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020''.
SEC. 1290A. DEFINITION.
In this subtitle, the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives.
CHAPTER 1--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL
SEC. 1291. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel
signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding to reaffirm 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 2 countries.
(2) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflects United
States support of Foreign Military Financing grant assistance
to Israel over a 10-year period beginning in fiscal year 2019
and ending in fiscal year 2028.
(3) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding also reflects
United States support for funding for cooperative programs to
develop, produce, and procure missile, rocket, and projectile
defense capabilities during such 10-year period at an average
funding level of $500,000,000 per year, totaling
$5,000,000,000 for such period.
SEC. 1292. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to provide assistance
to the Government of Israel for the development and
acquisition of advanced capabilities that Israel requires to
meet its security needs and to enhance United States
capabilities.
SEC. 1293. 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 ``2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and
2028'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``equal to--'' and all
that follows and inserting ``not less than $3,300,000,000.'';
and
(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Disbursement of funds.--Amounts authorized to be
available for Israel under paragraph (1) and subsection
(b)(1) for fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026,
2027, and 2028 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. 1294. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.
(a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005.--
Section 12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations
Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended by
striking ``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 ``2021,
2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025''.
SEC. 1295. 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, 2023'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025'';
and
(2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30,
2023'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.
SEC. 1296. 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 may be
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) Certifications.--Except in case of 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. 1297. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON RAPID ACQUISITION AND
DEPLOYMENT PROCEDURES.
It is the sense of Congress that the President should--
(1) prescribe procedures for the rapid acquisition and
deployment of precision guided munitions for United States
counterterrorism missions; or
(2) assist Israel, which is an ally of the United States,
to protect itself against direct missile threats.
SEC. 1298. 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
weapons 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 (commonly known as the ``Geneva Protocol'');
(B) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear
Material, signed at Vienna and New York March 3, 1980; and
(C) the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the
Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which may be Deemed to be
Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,
signed at Geneva October 10, 1980.
(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) Briefing on Eligibility for Strategic Trade
Authorization Exception.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment
[[Page S3401]]
of this Act, the President shall brief the appropriate
congressional committees by describing 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, as
required under section 6(b) of the United States-Israel
Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-296).
CHAPTER 2--ENHANCED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION
SEC. 1299. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING TO ENHANCE
COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that the United States Agency
for International Development and Israel's Agency for
International Development Cooperation signed memoranda of
understanding in 2012, 2017, and 2019 to coordinate the
agencies' respective efforts to promote common development
goals in third countries.
(b) Sense of Congress Regarding USAID Policy.--It is the
sense of Congress that the Department of State and the United
States Agency for International Development should continue
to cooperate with Israel to advance common development goals
in third countries across a wide variety of sectors,
including energy, agriculture, food security, democracy,
human rights, governance, economic growth, trade, education,
environment, global health, water, and sanitation.
(c) Memoranda of Understanding.--The Secretary of State,
acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development, may enter into memoranda of
understanding with Israel to advance common goals on energy,
agriculture, food security, democracy, human rights,
governance, economic growth, trade, education, environment,
global health, water, and sanitation, with a focus on
strengthening mutual ties and cooperation with nations
throughout the world.
SEC. 1299A. COOPERATIVE PROJECTS AMONG THE UNITED STATES,
ISRAEL, AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
Section 106 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2151d) is amended by striking subsections (e) and (f)
and inserting the following:
``(e) There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 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--
``(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;
``(4) clear and appropriate branding and marking of United
States funded assistance, in accordance with section 641; and
``(5) accelerating 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.
``(f) Amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (e) shall
be obligated in accordance with the memoranda of
understanding referred to in subsections (a) and (c) of
section 1299 of the United States-Israel Security Assistance
Authorization Act of 2020''.
SEC. 1299B. 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, as appropriate,
cooperating in projects related to innovation and advanced
technologies; and
(2) projects referred to in paragraph (1) should--
(A) contribute to development and the quality of life in
the Middle East region through the application of research
and advanced 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 and appropriate regional
partners to provide for cooperation in the Middle East region
by supporting projects related to innovation and advanced
technologies.
(c) Project Requirements.--Each project carried out under
the program established pursuant to subsection (b)--
(1) shall include the participation of at least 1 entity
from Israel and 1 entity from another regional partner; and
(2) shall be conducted in a manner that appropriately
protects sensitive information, intellectual property, the
national security interests of the United States, and the
national security interests of Israel.
SEC. 1299C. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES-ISRAEL
ECONOMIC COOPERATION.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States-Israel economic partnership--
(A) has achieved great tangible and intangible benefits to
both countries; and
(B) 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.
SEC. 1299D. COOPERATION ON DIRECTED ENERGY CAPABILITIES.
(a) Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, 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 under this paragraph shall be
conducted in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive
information, intellectual property, 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, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, submits a report to
the appropriate congressional committees that includes--
(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; and
(B) a certification that the memorandum of agreement
referred to in subparagraph (A)--
(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--
(I) a description of what the funds have been used for and
when funds were expended; and
(II) the identification of entities that expended such
funds.
(b) Support in Connection With Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, is authorized to
provide maintenance and sustainment support to Israel for the
directed energy capabilities research, development, test, and
evaluation activities authorized under subsection (a)(1),
including the installation of equipment that is 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 date on which the
Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary
of State, submits a report to the appropriate congressional
committees that describes in detail the support to be
provided.
(3) Matching contribution.--The support described in
paragraph (1) may not be provided unless the Secretary of
Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State,
certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that
the Government of Israel will contribute to such support--
(A) an amount 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) Semiannual Report.--The Secretary of Defense, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall submit a
semiannual report to the appropriate congressional committees
that includes the most recent semiannual report provided by
the Government of Israel to the United States Government.
SEC. 1299E. PLANS TO PROVIDE ISRAEL WITH NECESSARY DEFENSE
ARTICLES AND SERVICES IN A CONTINGENCY.
(a) In General.--The President shall establish and update,
as appropriate, 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 in a contingency.
(b) Congressional Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the President shall brief the appropriate
congressional committees regarding the status of the plans
required under subsection (a).
SEC. 1299F. OTHER MATTERS OF COOPERATION.
(a) In General.--Activities authorized under this section
shall be carried out with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State and aligned with the National Security Strategy of the
United States, the United States Government Global Health
Security Strategy, the Department of State Integrated Country
Strategies, the USAID Country Development Cooperation
Strategies, and any equivalent or successor plans or
strategies, as necessary and appropriate
(b) Development of Health Technologies.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of Health and
[[Page S3402]]
Human Services $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021
through 2023 for a bilateral cooperative program with the
Government of Israel that awards grants for the development
of health technologies, including health technologies listed
in paragraph (2), subject to paragraph (3), with an emphasis
on collaboratively advancing the use of technology and
personalized medicine in relation to COVID-19.
(2) Types of health technologies.--The health technologies
described in this paragraph may include technologies such as
sensors, drugs and vaccinations, respiratory assist devices,
diagnostic tests, and telemedicine.
(3) Restrictions on funding.--Amounts appropriated pursuant
to paragraph (1) are subject to a matching contribution from
the Government of Israel.
(4) Option for establishing new program.--Amounts
appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be expended for a
bilateral program with the Government of Israel that--
(A) is in existence on the day before the date of the
enactment of this Act for the purposes described in paragraph
(1); or
(B) is established after the date of the enactment of this
Act by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, in accordance with
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, done at Jerusalem May 29, 2008 (or a successor
agreement), for the purposes described in paragraph (1).
(c) Coordinator of United States-Israel Research and
Development.--
(1) In general.--The President may designate the Assistant
Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs, or another appropriate
Department of State official, to act as Coordinator of United
States-Israel Research and Development (referred to in this
subsection as the ``Coordinator'').
(2) 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, may oversee civilian science and
technology programs on a joint basis with Israel.
(d) Office of Global Policy and Strategy 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
Global Policy and Strategy.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commissioner, acting through the
head of the Office of Global Policy and Strategy, shall
submit a report describing the benefits to the United States
and to Israel of opening an office in Israel for the Office
of Global Policy and Strategy to--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(e) 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 2021 through 2023 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)).
(f) 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 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)).
(g) 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 2021 through 2023.''.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
(j) Research and Development Cooperation Relating to
Desalination Technology.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office
of Science and Technology Policy shall submit a report that
describes research and development cooperation with
international partners, such as the State of Israel, in the
area of desalination technology in accordance with section
9(b)(3) of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C.
10301 note) to--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(k) 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
of Excellence and Israeli institutions with expertise in
researching and treating posttraumatic stress disorder.
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