United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, of which I am a cosponsor.
The United States-Israel partnership is a two-way street. We work together to further our shared values and interests. We already collaborate on a wide range of civil issues, such as energy and agriculture; and our security cooperation helps keep both of our countries safe as we counter threats from a wide range of terrorist groups, as well as from Iran. But still there is much more that we can do together.
I want to thank Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson for this comprehensive, bipartisan update to the United States-Israel partnership to confront the challenges both countries face in 2019 and beyond.
H.R. 1837 expands our mutually-beneficial cooperation, identifying several new or growing areas of cooperation where we can exchange innovations and help improve the lives and livelihoods of our people as well as our respective national interests.
Through this bill, the United States and Israel will be better- positioned to cooperate on critical fields like research and development, directed energy, cybersecurity, international development and foreign assistance, treating post-traumatic stress disorder, and developing health technologies.
In terms of our security partnership with Israel, the bill authorizes U.S. foreign military financing to Israel at $3.3 billion per year through 2024, the same levels agreed to in the 2016 U.S.-Israel memorandum. It reauthorizes United States loan guarantees and extends War Reserves Stockpile Authority for Israel.
H.R. 1837 also codifies policies to ensure that the United States can transfer precision-guided munitions and other defense articles to Israel quickly in the event of an emergency.
We all know that Israel faces threats on multiple fronts, from Iran, from Hezbollah, Hamas, and others. These adversaries aren't going to call ahead in the event of an escalation. We need to be prepared with the appropriate authorities to ensure that if Israel is facing a protracted or multifront conflict, that the United States can help.
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