United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 18, 2014.  United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 - (Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that Israel is a major U.S. strategic partner. (Sec. 5) Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 to extend authority to transfer certain obsolete or surplus Department of Defense (DOD) items to Israel.   Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend authority to make additions to foreign-based defense stockpiles for use as war reserve stocks through FY2015.  (Sec. 6) Directs the President to take steps to make Israel eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception to the requirement for a license for the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of an item subject to certain export controls. (Sec. 7) Authorizes the President to carry out U.S.-Israel cooperative activities and to provide assistance for cooperation in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies.  Authorizes the President to: (1) share and exchange with Israel research, technology, intelligence, information, equipment, and personnel that will advance U.S. national security interests; and (2) enhance U.S.-Israel scientific cooperation.  Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into cooperative research pilot programs with Israel to enhance Israel's capabilities in: (1) border, maritime, and aviation security; (2) explosives detection; and (3) emergency services.  (Sec. 8) Directs the President to report to Congress regarding the feasibility and advisability of expanding U.S.-Israel cyber cooperation. (Sec. 9) States that it shall be U.S. policy to include Israel in the visa waiver program when Israel satisfies, and as long as Israel continues to satisfy, program requirements. (Sec. 10) Directs the President to update Congress on efforts taken, pursuant to the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, to provide Israel with defense articles and defense services, including missile and joint missile defense capabilities including Iron Dome, security and intelligence cooperation, and an expanded role for Israel with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). (Sec. 11) Requires any certification that a sale or export of major defense equipment to a country in the Middle East will not adversely affect Israel's qualitative military edge to include:   an explanation of Israel's capacity to address the improved capabilities provided by the sale or export;  an evaluation of how the sale or export alters the regional strategic and tactical balance; an identification of any new capacity or training that Israel may require to address the regional or country-specific capabilities provided by such sale or export; and  a description of any additional U.S. security assurances to Israel made, or requested to be made, in connection with the sale or export.  (Sec. 12) Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to authorize the Secretary of Energy to:   enter into cooperative agreements supporting dialogue and planning involving international partnerships between the Department of Energy (DOE), including DOE National Laboratories, and the government of Israel and its ministries, offices, and institutions; and  establish a joint United States-Israel Center in the United States with offshore energy development expertise to develop academic cooperation in energy innovation technology and engineering, water science, technology transfer, and analysis of geopolitical implications of new natural resource development.  Extends through September 30, 2024, the grant program to support U.S.-Israel research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy or energy efficiency. Expands the scope of covered energy under such program, including the coverage of natural gas energy, water desalination improvement, and other water treatment technologies. Directs the Secretary of State to continue ongoing diplomacy efforts to: (1) support Israel's energy security, and (2) promote regional energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Israel Strategic 
Partnership Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
    Congress makes the following findings:
        (1) The people and the Governments of the United States and of 
    Israel share a deep and unbreakable bond, forged by over 60 years 
    of shared interests and shared values.
        (2) Today, the people and Governments of the United States and 
    of Israel are facing a dynamic and rapidly changing security 
    environment in the Middle East and North Africa, necessitating 
    deeper cooperation on a range of defense, security, and 
    intelligence matters.
        (3) From Gaza, Hamas continues to deny Israel's right to exist 
    and persists in firing rockets indiscriminately at population 
    centers in Israel.
        (4) Hezbollah--with support from Iran--continues to stockpile 
    rockets and may be seeking to exploit the tragic and volatile 
    security situation within Syria.
        (5) The Government of Iran continues to pose a grave threat to 
    the region and the world at large with its reckless pursuit of 
    nuclear weapons.
        (6) Given these challenges, it is imperative that the United 
    States continues to deepen cooperation with allies like Israel in 
    pursuit of shared policy objectives.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
    It is the policy of the United States--
        (1) to reaffirm the unwavering support of the people and the 
    Government of the United States for the security of Israel as a 
    Jewish state;
        (2) to reaffirm the principles and objectives enshrined in the 
    United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 
    (Public Law 112-150) and ensure its implementation to the fullest 
    extent;
        (3) to reaffirm the importance of the 2007 United States-Israel 
    Memorandum of Understanding on United States assistance to Israel 
    and the semi-annual Strategic Dialogue between the United States 
    and Israel;
        (4) to pursue every opportunity to deepen cooperation with 
    Israel on a range of critical issues including defense, homeland 
    security, energy, and cybersecurity;
        (5) to continue to provide Israel with robust security 
    assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome Missile 
    Defense System; and
        (6) to support the Government of Israel in its ongoing efforts 
    to reach a negotiated political settlement with the Palestinian 
    people that results in two states living side-by-side in peace and 
    security.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ISRAEL AS A MAJOR STRATEGIC PARTNER.
    It is the sense of Congress that Israel is a major strategic 
partner of the United States.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.
    (a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005.--Section 
12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public 
Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended by striking ``more than 10 
years after'' and inserting ``more than 11 years after''.
    (b) Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.--Section 514(b)(2)(A) of the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)(A)) is amended by 
striking ``and 2014'' and inserting ``, 2014, and 2015''.
SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAEL FOR THE STRATEGIC TRADE AUTHORIZATION 
EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN EXPORT CONTROL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that Israel--
        (1) has adopted high standards in the field of export controls;
        (2) has declared its unilateral adherence to the Missile 
    Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and the Nuclear 
    Suppliers Group; and
        (3) is a party to--
            (A) the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the 
        Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be 
        Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, signed 
        at Geneva October 10, 1980;
            (B) the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of 
        Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological 
        Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva June 17, 1925; and
            (C) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear 
        Material, adopted at Vienna on October 26, 1979.
    (b) Eligibility for Strategic Trade Authorization Exception.--The 
President, consistent with the commitments of the United States under 
international arrangements, shall take steps so that Israel may be 
included in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade 
authorization exception under section 740.20(c)(1) of title 15, Code of 
Federal Regulations, to the requirement for a license for the export, 
reexport, or in-country transfer of an item subject to controls under 
the Export Administration Regulations.
SEC. 7. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ON ENERGY, WATER, HOMELAND 
SECURITY, AGRICULTURE, AND ALTERNATIVE FUEL TECHNOLOGIES.
    (a) In General.--The President is authorized, subject to existing 
law--
        (1) to undertake activities in cooperation with Israel; and
        (2) to provide assistance promoting cooperation in the fields 
    of energy, water, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies.
    (b) Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (a), the President is 
authorized, subject to existing requirements of law and any applicable 
agreements or understandings between the United States and Israel--
        (1) to share and exchange with Israel research, technology, 
    intelligence, information, equipment, and personnel, including 
    through sales, leases, or exchanges in kind, that the President 
    determines will advance the national security interests of the 
    United States and are consistent with the Strategic Dialogue and 
    pertinent provisions of law; and
        (2) to enhance scientific cooperation between Israel and the 
    United States.
    (c) Cooperative Research Pilot Programs.--The Secretary of Homeland 
Security, acting through the Director of the Homeland Security Advanced 
Research Projects Agency and with the concurrence of the Secretary of 
State, is authorized, subject to existing law, to enter into 
cooperative research pilot programs with Israel to enhance Israel's 
capabilities in--
        (1) border, maritime, and aviation security;
        (2) explosives detection; and
        (3) emergency services.
SEC. 8. REPORT ON INCREASED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ON 
CYBERSECURITY.
    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report, in a classified 
format or including a classified annex, as appropriate, on the 
feasibility and advisability of expanding United States-Israeli 
cooperation on cyber issues, including sharing and advancing 
technologies related to the prevention of cybercrimes.
SEC. 9. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM.
    It shall be the policy of the United States to include Israel in 
the list of countries that participate in the visa waiver program under 
section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) when 
Israel satisfies, and as long as Israel continues to satisfy, the 
requirements for inclusion in such program specified in such section.
  SEC. 10. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 4 OF THE UNITED STATES-
      ISRAEL ENHANCED SECURITY COOPERATION ACT OF 2012.
    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall, to the extent practicable and in an 
appropriate manner, provide an update to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, and 
the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on 
current and future efforts undertaken by the President to fulfill the 
objectives of section 4 of the United States-Israel Enhanced Security 
Cooperation Act (22 U.S.C. 8603).
  SEC. 11. IMPROVED REPORTING ON ENHANCING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE 
      MILITARY EDGE AND SECURITY POSTURE.
    (a) Biennial Assessment Reevaluations.--Section 201(c) of the Naval 
Vessel Transfer Act of 2008 (22 U.S.C. 2776 note) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
        ``(3) Biennial updates.--Two years after the date on which each 
    quadrennial report is transmitted to Congress, the President 
    shall--
            ``(A) reevaluate the assessment required under subsection 
        (a); and
            ``(B) inform and consult with the appropriate congressional 
        committees on the results of the reevaluation conducted 
        pursuant to subparagraph (A).''.
    (b) Certification Requirements for Major Defense Equipment.--
Section 36(h) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)) is 
amended--
        (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
        (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
        ``(2) Requirements with respect to determination for major 
    defense equipment.--A determination under paragraph (1) relating to 
    the sale or export of major defense equipment shall include--
            ``(A) a detailed explanation of Israel's capacity to 
        address the improved capabilities provided by such sale or 
        export;
            ``(B) a detailed evaluation of--
                ``(i) how such sale or export alters the strategic and 
            tactical balance in the region, including relative 
            capabilities; and
                ``(ii) Israel's capacity to respond to the improved 
            regional capabilities provided by such sale or export;
            ``(C) an identification of any specific new capacity, 
        capabilities, or training that Israel may require to address 
        the regional or country-specific capabilities provided by such 
        sale or export; and
            ``(D) a description of any additional United States 
        security assurances to Israel made, or requested to be made, in 
        connection with, or as a result of, such sale or export.''.
  SEC. 12. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION.
    (a) Findings.--Section 917(a) of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(a)) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``renewable'' and inserting 
    ``covered'';
        (2) in paragraph (4)--
            (A) by striking ``possible many'' and inserting 
        ``possible--
            ``(A) many''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following: ``and
            ``(B) significant contributions to the development of 
        renewable energy and energy efficiency through the established 
        programs of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial 
        Research and Development Foundation and the United States-
        Israel Binational Science Foundation;'';
        (3) in paragraph (6)--
            (A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting ``covered''; 
        and
            (B) by striking ``and'' at the end;
        (4) in paragraph (7)--
            (A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting ``covered''; 
        and
            (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a 
        semicolon; and
        (5) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(8) United States-Israel energy cooperation and the 
    development of natural resources by Israel are in the strategic 
    interest of the United States;
        ``(9) Israel is a strategic partner of the United States in 
    water technology;
        ``(10) the United States can play a role in assisting Israel 
    with regional safety and security issues;
        ``(11) the National Science Foundation of the United States, to 
    the extent consistent with the National Science Foundation's 
    mission, should collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation and 
    the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation;
        ``(12) the United States and Israel should strive to develop 
    more robust academic cooperation in--
            ``(A) energy innovation technology and engineering;
            ``(B) water science;
            ``(C) technology transfer; and
            ``(D) analysis of emerging geopolitical implications, 
        crises and threats from foreign natural resource and energy 
        acquisitions, and the development of domestic resources as a 
        response;
        ``(13) the United States supports the goals of the Alternative 
    Fuels Administration of Israel with respect to expanding the use of 
    alternative fuels;
        ``(14) the United States strongly urges open dialogue and 
    continued mechanisms for regular engagement and encourages further 
    cooperation between applicable departments, agencies, ministries, 
    institutions of higher education, and the private sector of the 
    United States and Israel on energy security issues, including--
            ``(A) identifying policy priorities associated with the 
        development of natural resources of Israel;
            ``(B) discussing and sharing best practices to secure cyber 
        energy infrastructure and other energy security matters;
            ``(C) leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional 
        stability;
            ``(D) issues relating to the energy-water nexus, including 
        improving energy efficiency and the overall performance of 
        water technologies through research and development in water 
        desalination, wastewater treatment and reclamation, water 
        treatment in gas and oil production processes, and other water 
        treatment refiners;
            ``(E) technical and environmental management of deep-water 
        exploration and production;
            ``(F) emergency response and coastal protection and 
        restoration;
            ``(G) academic outreach and engagement;
            ``(H) private sector and business development engagement;
            ``(I) regulatory consultations;
            ``(J) leveraging alternative transportation fuels and 
        technologies; and
            ``(K) any other areas determined appropriate by the United 
        States and Israel;
        ``(15) the United States--
            ``(A) acknowledges the achievements and importance of the 
        Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation and 
        the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; and
            ``(B) supports continued multiyear funding to ensure the 
        continuity of the programs of the foundations specified in 
        subparagraph (A); and
        ``(16) the United States and Israel have a shared interest in 
    addressing immediate, near-term, and long-term energy, energy 
    poverty, energy independence, and environmental challenges facing 
    the United States and Israel, respectively.''.
    (b) Grant Program.--Section 917(b) of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(1)) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``renewable energy or energy 
    efficiency'' and inserting ``covered energy'';
        (2) in paragraph (2)--
            (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(H) natural gas energy, including conventional and 
        unconventional natural gas technologies and other associated 
        technologies, and natural gas projects conducted by or in 
        conjunction with the United States-Israel Binational Science 
        Foundation and the United States-Israel Binational Industrial 
        Research and Development Foundation; and
            ``(I) improvement of energy efficiency and the overall 
        performance of water technologies through research and 
        development in water desalination, wastewater treatment and 
        reclamation, and other water treatment refiners.''; and
        (3) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``energy efficiency or 
    renewable'' and inserting ``covered''.
    (c) International Partnerships; Regional Energy Cooperation.--
        (1) International partnerships.--Section 917 of the Energy 
    Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337) is 
    amended--
            (A) by striking subsection (d);
            (B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e);
            (C) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) International Partnerships.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, subject to the availability 
    of appropriations, may enter into cooperative agreements supporting 
    and enhancing dialogue and planning involving international 
    partnerships between the Department, including National 
    Laboratories of the Department, and the Government of Israel and 
    its ministries, offices, and institutions.
        ``(2) Federal share.--The Secretary may not pay more than 50 
    percent of Federal share of the costs of implementing cooperative 
    agreements entered into pursuant to paragraph (1).
        ``(3) Annual reports.--If the Secretary enters into agreements 
    authorized by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit an annual 
    report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
    Senate, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the 
    Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Energy 
    and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
    Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the 
    Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and 
    the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
    that describes--
            ``(A) actions taken to implement such agreements; and
            ``(B) any projects undertaken pursuant to such agreements.
    ``(d) United States-Israel Energy Center.--The Secretary may 
establish a joint United States-Israel Energy Center in the United 
States leveraging the experience, knowledge, and expertise of 
institutions of higher education and entities in the private sector, 
among others, in offshore energy development to further dialogue and 
collaboration to develop more robust academic cooperation in energy 
innovation technology and engineering, water science, technology 
transfer, and analysis of emerging geopolitical implications, crises 
and threats from foreign natural resource and energy acquisitions, and 
the development of domestic resources as a response.''; and
            (D) in subsection (e), as redesignated, by striking ``the 
        date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2024''.
        (2) Constructive regional energy cooperation.--The Secretary of 
    State shall continue the ongoing diplomacy efforts of the Secretary 
    of State in--
            (A) engaging and supporting the energy security of Israel; 
        and
            (B) promoting constructive regional energy cooperation in 
        the Eastern Mediterranean.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.