[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 114 (Wednesday, July 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4497-S4498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2210. Mr. COTTON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 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, add the following:

           Subtitle G--Israel Security Assistance Support Act

     SEC. 1291. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Israel Security 
     Assistance Support Act''.

     SEC. 1292. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a 
     massive, unprovoked war on Israel, killing over 1,200 
     innocent people and taking over 240 hostages, including 
     United States citizens.
       (2) Since October 7, 2023, Israel has faced attacks by Iran 
     and its proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, 
     which have required significant military responses.
       (3) Under the terms of a 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, 
     the United States provides Israel with $3,800,000,000 per 
     year in security assistance and missile defense funding from 
     fiscal years 2019 through 2028, which is subject to the 
     approval of Congress.
       (4) Thus far in fiscal year 2024, Congress has enacted 
     regular and supplemental legislation appropriating 
     $12,500,000,000 in security assistance and missile defense 
     for Israel without any additional conditions.
       (5) Congress plays a vital role in oversight and approval 
     of direct commercial sales and foreign military sales to 
     security partners around the world, including Israel.
       (6) In May 2024, it was reported that President Biden 
     ordered a pause on certain defense articles ready for 
     imminent delivery to Israel, without having consulted with 
     Congress.
       (7) On May 8, 2024, President Biden stated, regarding 
     Israel, ``We're not going to supply the weapons and artillery 
     shells''.

     SEC. 1293. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that Congress--
       (1) condemns the Biden Administration's decision to pause 
     certain arms transfers to Israel as Israel faces 
     unprecedented threats from Iran and its proxies, including 
     Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis;
       (2) calls on the Biden Administration to allow all 
     previously approved arms transfers to Israel to proceed 
     quickly to ensure that Israel can defend itself and defeat 
     threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, 
     Hamas, and the Houthis;
       (3) calls on the Biden Administration to utilize all 
     congressionally appropriated funds for security assistance 
     for Israel as Congress intended;
       (4) stands with Israel as it defends itself against the 
     barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists; and
       (5) reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense.

     SEC. 1294. PROHIBITION.

       None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     under any Act appropriating funds for the Department of 
     Defense or the Department of State for fiscal year 2025 or 
     any prior years may be made available--
       (1) to withhold, halt, reverse, or cancel the delivery of 
     defense articles or defense services from the United States 
     to Israel; or
       (2) to pay the salary or expenses of any officer or 
     employee of the Department of Defense or the Department of 
     State who takes any action to support or further the 
     withholding, halting, reversal, or cancellation of the 
     delivery of such defense articles or services.

     SEC. 1295. PROMPT DELIVERY.

       (a) Prompt Delivery of Defense Articles and Services.--The 
     Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of 
     State, shall ensure prompt delivery of all defense articles 
     and services for Israel that are expected to be delivered in 
     fiscal years 2024 and 2025, including--
       (1) those contracted through the Foreign Military Sales 
     system;
       (2) those supported by prior Acts making appropriations for 
     the Department of Defense; and
       (3) those provided pursuant to a declaration in section 
     506(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2318(a)).
       (b) Prompt Delivery of Direct Commercial Sales.--The 
     Secretary of State shall ensure prompt approval and delivery 
     of all direct commercial sales of defense articles and 
     services for Israel that are expected to be delivered in 
     fiscal years 2024 and 2025, including those for the Ministry 
     of Public Security.
       (c) Prompt Delivery of Withheld Items.--Any defense article 
     and defense service described in subsection (a) or (b) of 
     this section that were withheld from delivery as of the date 
     of the enactment of this Act shall be delivered to Israel not 
     later than 15 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 1296. WITHHOLDING OF FUNDS.

       (a) Withholding of Department of Defense Funds.--None of 
     the unobligated balances of funds made available by prior 
     Acts making appropriations for the Department of Defense 
     under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' 
     for the immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense that are 
     available as of the date of the enactment of this Act may be 
     obligated or expended until the Secretary of Defense 
     certifies and reports to the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate that the 
     requirements of section 1295(c) have been met.
       (b) Withholding of Department of State Funds.--None of the 
     unobligated balances of funds made available by prior Acts 
     making appropriations for the Department of State, Foreign 
     Operations, and Related Programs under the heading 
     ``Diplomatic Programs'' for the Office of the Secretary that 
     are available as of the date of the enactment of this Act may 
     be obligated or expended until the Secretary of State 
     certifies and reports to the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate that the 
     requirements of section 1295(c) have been met.
       (c) Withholding of Financial Services and General 
     Government Funds.--None of

[[Page S4498]]

     the unobligated balances of funds made available by prior 
     Acts making appropriations for Financial Services and General 
     Government under the heading ``Executive Office of the 
     President and Funds Appropriated To the President--National 
     Security Council and Homeland Security Council'' that are 
     available as of the date of the enactment of this Act may be 
     obligated or expended until the President certifies and 
     reports to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate that the requirements of 
     section 1295(c) have been met.

     SEC. 1297. OBLIGATION REQUIREMENT.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary 
     of Defense and the Secretary of State shall obligate any 
     remaining unobligated balances of funds appropriated or 
     otherwise made available for assistance for Israel not later 
     than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 1298. REPORTS.

       (a) Inspector General Report.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspectors General 
     of the Department of Defense and the Department of State 
     shall jointly submit to Congress a report on any actions 
     taken by executive branch officials before the date of the 
     enactment of this Act to withhold, halt, reverse, or cancel 
     the delivery of defense articles and defense services to 
     Israel.
       (b) Monthly Security Assistance Report.--Not later than 30 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 
     30 days thereafter through fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of 
     Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall 
     provide a written report to the Committees on Appropriations, 
     Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations, Armed 
     Services, and Foreign Relations of the Senate describing 
     United States security assistance provided to Israel since 
     October 7, 2023, including a comprehensive list of the 
     defense articles and services provided to Israel and the 
     associated authority and funding used to provide such 
     articles and services: Provided, That such report shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may be accompanied by a 
     classified annex.
       (c) Report on Priority Defense Articles and Services.--Not 
     later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
     Secretary of State, shall provide a written report to the 
     Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committees on 
     Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate describing urgent and high priority defense articles 
     and defense services for Israel and steps taken or planned to 
     expedite the delivery of such articles and services.
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