United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016
Floor Speech
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Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that today the House is considering H.R. 5877, the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016.
Israel is our strongest and most trusted ally in the Middle East, and I am grateful to join with the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my friend, in working to expand and strengthen this bond through long-term collaboration on cybersecurity efforts between our countries. H.R. 5877 builds on decades of partnership with the State of Israel by amending current law to authorize the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to enter into cooperative research activities with Israel.
H.R. 5877 also amends the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 by further formalizing the program and by adding cybersecurity to the list of research areas authorized under the act. The U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 currently authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct cooperative research programs to enhance Israel's capabilities in border security, explosives detection, and emergency services. My bill now adds cybersecurity to that important list.
Mr. Speaker, violence and instability in the Middle East present significant challenges for Israel as our major strategic partner in that region of the world, and enhancing collaboration between our countries is, therefore, essential to ensuring Israel's continued ability to defend herself.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced this legislation following an in-depth congressional delegation that I led to Israel earlier this year, along with my colleague, Mr. Langevin. While there, we were able to meet with Israel's top national security figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss homeland security and cybersecurity threats to the United States and Israel, and to develop strategies for better cooperation in defending against these threats.
Mr. Langevin and I also met with Israel's cybersecurity firms to learn about their efforts and to discuss the potential application of these innovative technologies to U.S. homeland security. In recent years, Israel's tech sector has been booming with cybersecurity and technology startups, and many United States tech companies now have a presence in Israel. Much of Israel's success in the tech sector results from its development of a very robust cyber workforce, and we discussed ways to apply these lessons here in the United States.
The United States and Israel share a joint recognition that cybersecurity is national security, and that our two nations must closely partner to combat these growing threats. This is exactly why I was so pleased to be able to introduce H.R. 5877, the United States- Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016, and why I also express my strong support for Mr. Langevin's bill, H.R. 5843, the United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2016.
I thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Langevin, for his bipartisan partnership on these very important bills. As the co-founder and cochairman of the bipartisan Cybersecurity Caucus, he has long been a leader on cybersecurity issues here in Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Thompson, and subcommittee Ranking Member Richmond for their help in getting this legislation across the finish line today. I also thank Chairman Royce and the staff of the Foreign Affairs Committee for their assistance in moving the legislation to the floor today.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill.
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