Foreign Relations Committee Advances Rubio-Coons Bill to Enhance Security Assistance to Israel

Statement

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today approved the U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) to authorize at least $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel.

"As the Jewish state of Israel faces volatile threats from Iran, Syria's Assad regime, Hizballah, Hamas and other malign actors, I commend my colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for passing this bipartisan bill to further strengthen our critical and strategic alliance with Israel," Rubio said. "It is in America's national security interest to ensure that Israel, a fellow democracy and most important ally in the Middle East, always has the capabilities to defend itself amid the region's growing dangers."

"The passage of this bipartisan legislation represents the continuation of America's unshakable, seven-decade commitment to Israel's security," Coons said. "The security assistance included in this bill will help Israel protect itself in the midst of regional instability; deter -- and if necessary defend against -- Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas; and deepen bilateral ties for the next decade and beyond."

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