[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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