I 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4229 

To authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome anti-missile 

defense system. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 21, 2012 

Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. CHABOT, 

Mr. CICILLINE, and Ms. BUERKLE) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome 

anti-missile defense system. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iron Dome Support 

5 Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The State of Israel remains under grave 

9 threat and frequent attack from missiles, rockets, 

10 and mortar shells fired at Israeli civilian targets by 


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•HR 4229 IH

1 militants from the Foreign Terrorist Organization 

2 Hamas on its southern border and by the Foreign 

3 Terrorist Organization Hezbollah on its northern 

4 border, which have killed, wounded, or inflicted psy5 chological trauma on countless Israelis. 

6 (2) The United States remains committed to 

7 Israel’s qualitative military edge, including its ad8 vantage over non-state actors such as Hezbollah and 

9 Hamas, which boast increasingly sophisticated and 

10 powerful weapons as a result of support from Iran, 

11 Syria, and other state actors. 

12 (3) The Israeli Defense Forces report that the 

13 Iron Dome anti-missile defense system has achieved 

14 a success rate of more than 90 percent, intercepting 

15 rockets bound for residential neighborhoods, busy 

16 road junctions, shopping centers, and crowded 

17 streets in southern Israel. 

18 (4) The recent success of the Iron Dome anti19 missile defense system averted massive Israeli cas20 ualties, thereby eliminating Israel’s need to conduct 

21 a ground-based attack against Gaza-based terrorists, 

22 enhancing Israel’s operational flexibility, and pre23 venting terrorists from plunging the region into cri24 sis whenever they choose. 


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1 (5) The United States can help to advance its 

2 own vital national security interests and the cause of 

3 Middle Eastern peace and stability by supporting 

4 Israel’s ability to defend itself against missiles, rock5 ets, and other threats. 

6 (6) In 2010, President Obama requested funds 

7 to help the State of Israel procure and maintain 

8 Iron Dome missile batteries. The House of Rep9 resentatives then overwhelmingly passed the United 

10 States-Israel Rocket and Missile Defense Coopera11 tion and Support Act. 

12 (7) The Government of Israel currently has 

13 three operational Iron Dome batteries deployed in 

14 the field, which are far from sufficient to protect all 

15 of Israel’s territory. 

16 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL FOR 

17 IRON DOME ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM. 

18 The President, acting through the Secretary of De19 fense and the Secretary of State, is authorized to provide 

20 assistance, upon request by the Government of Israel, for 

21 the procurement, maintenance, and sustainment of the 

22 Iron Dome anti-missile defense system for purposes of 

23 intercepting short-range missiles launched against Israel. 

Æ 


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