[114th Congress Public Law 123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 130 STAT. 117]]
Public Law 114-123
114th Congress
An Act
To improve defense cooperation between the United States and the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. <<NOTE: Feb. 18, 2016 - [H.R. 907]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: United States-
Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015. 22 USC 2751 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Jordan Defense
Cooperation Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) As of January 22, 2015, the United States Government has
provided $3,046,343,000 in assistance to respond to the Syria
humanitarian crisis, of which nearly $467,000,000 has been
provided to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
(2) As of January 2015, according to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, there were 621,937 registered Syrian
refugees in Jordan and 83.8 percent of whom lived outside
refugee camps.
(3) In 2000, the United States and Jordan signed a free-
trade agreement that went into force in 2001.
(4) In 1996, the United States granted Jordan major non-NATO
ally status.
(5) Jordan is suffering from the Syrian refugee crisis and
the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
(6) The Government of Jordan was elected as a non-permanent
member of the United Nations Security Council for a 2-year term
ending in December 2015.
(7) Enhanced support for defense cooperation with Jordan is
important to the national security of the United States,
including through creation of a status in law for Jordan similar
to the countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Israel, and New
Zealand, with respect to consideration by Congress of foreign
military sales to Jordan.
(8) The Colorado National Guard's relationship with the
Jordanian military provides a significant benefit to both the
United States and Jordan.
(9) <<NOTE: Moaz al-Kasasbeh.>> Jordanian pilot Moaz al-
Kasasbeh was brutally murdered by ISIL.
(10) On February 3, 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry and
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh signed a new Memorandum
of Understanding that reflects the intention to increase United
States assistance to the Government of Jordan
[[Page 130 STAT. 118]]
from $660,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 for each of the years 2015
through 2017.
(11) On December 5, 2014, in an interview on CBS This
Morning, Jordanian King Abdullah II stated--
(A) in reference to ISIL, ``This is a Muslim
problem. We need to take ownership of this. We need to
stand up and say what is wrong''; and
(B) ``This is our war. This is a war inside Islam.
So we have to own up to it. We have to take the lead. We
have to start fighting back.''.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It should be the policy of the United States--
(1) to support the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in its
response to the Syrian refugee crisis;
(2) to provide necessary assistance to alleviate the
domestic burden to provide basic needs for the assimilated
Syrian refugees;
(3) to cooperate with Jordan to combat the terrorist threat
from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or other
terrorist organizations; and
(4) to help secure the border between Jordan and its
neighbors Syria and Iraq.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) expeditious consideration of certifications of letters
of offer to sell defense articles, defense services, design and
construction services, and major defense equipment to the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under section 36(b) of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)) is fully consistent with
United States security and foreign policy interests and the
objectives of world peace and security;
(2) Congress welcomes the statement of King Abdullah II
quoted in section (2)(11); and
(3) it is in the interest of peace and stability for
regional members of the Global Coalition to Combat ISIL to
continue their commitment to, and increase their involvement in,
addressing the threat posed by ISIL.
SEC. 5. <<NOTE: 22 USC 2753 note. Time period. Effective date.>>
ENHANCED DEFENSE COOPERATION.
(a) In General.--During the 3-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan shall be
treated as if it were a country listed in the provisions of law
described in subsection (b) for purposes of applying and administering
such provisions of law.
(b) Arms Export Control Act.--The provisions of law described in
this subsection are--
(1) subsections (b)(2), (d)(2)(B), (d)(3)(A)(i), and (d)(5)
of section 3 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2753);
(2) subsections (e)(2)(A), (h)(1)(A), and (h)(2) of section
21 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2761);
(3) subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(6), (c), and (d)(2)(A)
of section 36 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2776);
(4) section 62(c)(1) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2796a(c)(1));
and
(5) section 63(a)(2) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2796b(a)(2)).
[[Page 130 STAT. 119]]
SEC. 6. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of
State is authorized to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to increase economic support funds, military
cooperation, including joint military exercises, personnel exchanges,
support for international peacekeeping missions, and enhanced strategic
dialogue.
Approved February 18, 2016.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 907 (S. 1789):
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 161 (2015):
July 7, considered and passed House.
Vol. 162 (2016):
Feb. 3, considered and passed
Senate, amended.
Feb. 10, House concurred in Senate
amendment.
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