Israel QME Enhancement Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 1992, the Israel Qualitative Military Edge Enhancement Act.

I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for working so diligently with my office, and I want to thank Congressman Doug Collins for bringing this important legislation before the House floor. I want to personally thank my friend and colleague Mr. Collins for all of the work he has done and that we have done together to make sure this bill becomes a reality.

Israel stands at an historic juncture. In a very dangerous neighborhood, Israel must have the capabilities to deal with a broad spectrum of potential conventional and asymmetric threats. With the United States negotiating with Iran over its nuclear weapons program, it is vitally important that we continue to give Israel all of the tools necessary to address a growing list of threats. That is why Representative Collins and I have introduced this important and timely bill--to help further safeguard the technological edge Israel has in defending herself and in safeguarding human life for all of her citizens.

This bill expands upon existing requirements that the United States aid Israel in developing defense-capable systems for safeguarding the Israeli homeland against conventional and asymmetrical threats. Previously, this cooperation has resulted in the highly successful Iron Dome system along with the continued development of the Arrow and the David's Sling series of military hardware.

Despite this capability, Israel now faces the threat of regional insecurity with a virtual failed state on its border with Syria, hundreds of thousands of rockets and mortars being stockpiled by Hezbollah in Lebanon, ongoing rocket fire from Hamas on the Gaza Strip, increasing terrorist activity in the Sinai, and, most importantly, the continued existential threat of Iran and its accelerating nuclear program. The U.S. can and must do more to aid Israel in addressing all of these threats in a comprehensive way.

The bill before us would specifically encourage greater cooperation between Israel and the United States in developing new weapons, tactics and procedures that will safeguard them from the growing threats Of cyber warfare and asymmetrical military threats such as terrorist activity. Increased reporting and coordination will allow the United States and Israel to continue their mutually beneficial research and intelligence programs to create a more secure and prosperous region--one that can safeguard human life to the maximum extent possible. By increasing the frequency of assessment from 4 years to 2, the Israel Qualitative Military Edge Enhancement Act will help ensure Israel is always prepared to confront constantly evolving conventional and asymmetrical threats.

I again want to thank the chairman and ranking member for their support of this legislation. I also want to thank the other cosponsors of this bill, including Representative Collins, for their hard work to hone this bill over the last few months. I would especially like to thank Vernon Robinson, Jr., who worked so diligently with my staff to shepherd this bill to the House floor today.

I strongly ask my colleagues to join me in support of this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the United States has no more important relationship, not just in the region but in the world, than the strategic, unbreakable alliance with the democratic Jewish State of Israel.

Israel's security is our security. Israel's security must not in any way be compromised.

As has been noted here already, Israel lives in a most dangerous neighborhood. Her security is dependent on a clearly demonstrated permanently sustained qualitative military edge. This bill, H.R. 1992, improves and enhances our relationship with Israel to guarantee her qualitative military edge in a very dangerous neighborhood.

I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1992 and to protect Israel's security.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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