```

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4229 Introduced in House (IH)]

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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Iron Dome Support Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The State of Israel remains under grave threat and 
        frequent attack from missiles, rockets, and mortar shells fired 
        at Israeli civilian targets by militants from the Foreign 
        Terrorist Organization Hamas on its southern border and by the 
        Foreign Terrorist Organization Hezbollah on its northern 
        border, which have killed, wounded, or inflicted psychological 
        trauma on countless Israelis.
            (2) The United States remains committed to Israel's 
        qualitative military edge, including its advantage over non-
        state actors such as Hezbollah and Hamas, which boast 
        increasingly sophisticated and powerful weapons as a result of 
        support from Iran, Syria, and other state actors.
            (3) The Israeli Defense Forces report that the Iron Dome 
        anti-missile defense system has achieved a success rate of more 
        than 90 percent, intercepting rockets bound for residential 
        neighborhoods, busy road junctions, shopping centers, and 
        crowded streets in southern Israel.
            (4) The recent success of the Iron Dome anti-missile 
        defense system averted massive Israeli casualties, thereby 
        eliminating Israel's need to conduct a ground-based attack 
        against Gaza-based terrorists, enhancing Israel's operational 
        flexibility, and preventing terrorists from plunging the region 
        into crisis whenever they choose.
            (5) The United States can help to advance its own vital 
        national security interests and the cause of Middle Eastern 
        peace and stability by supporting Israel's ability to defend 
        itself against missiles, rockets, and other threats.
            (6) In 2010, President Obama requested funds to help the 
        State of Israel procure and maintain Iron Dome missile 
        batteries. The House of Representatives then overwhelmingly 
        passed the United States-Israel Rocket and Missile Defense 
        Cooperation and Support Act.
            (7) The Government of Israel currently has three 
        operational Iron Dome batteries deployed in the field, which 
        are far from sufficient to protect all of Israel's territory.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL FOR IRON DOME ANTI-
              MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

    The President, acting through the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of State, is authorized to provide assistance, upon request 
by the Government of Israel, for the procurement, maintenance, and 
sustainment of the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system for purposes 
of intercepting short-range missiles launched against Israel.
                                 <all>
```