I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7866 

To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 

to improve cooperation between the United States and Israel on antitunnel defense capabilities. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 2, 2024 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. LAMBORN, 

Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. BACON, and Mr. MOULTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and 

in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

Year 2016 to improve cooperation between the United 

States and Israel on anti-tunnel defense capabilities. 

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 ‘‘United States-Israel 

5 Anti-Tunnel Cooperation Enhancement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 7866 IH

1 (1) Israel is an international leader in devel2 oping innovative defense technologies, including pio3 neering efforts to map, detect, destroy, and maneu4 ver through terror tunnels. 

5 (2) Terrorist organizations on Israel’s borders 

6 such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic 

7 Jihad, with Iran’s help, have constructed a labyrinth 

8 of subterranean passages under the Gaza Strip and 

9 areas of southern Lebanon to improve their military 

10 capabilities as well as to attack and kidnap Israeli 

11 soldiers and civilians. 

12 (3) Since October 7, 2023, over 1,500 new ter13 ror tunnel shafts, around 350 to 450 miles long, 

14 built under hospitals, schools, and homes in Gaza 

15 have been discovered with over 5,700 entrance 

16 points. 

17 (4) In the Gaza Strip, Hamas intentionally uses 

18 civilians as human shields by placing its under19 ground tunnel network beneath densely populated 

20 areas, connecting its terror infrastructure to schools, 

21 hospitals, and mosques. 

22 (5) Tunnels in Gaza and Lebanon are used as 

23 underground rocket manufacturing and launching 

24 sites, weapons caches, bunkers, transportation net25 works, and command and control centers. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 7866 IH

1 (6) The United States and Israeli intelligence 

2 indicate that both Hamas’ military leadership is 

3 sheltering in the subterranean tunnel network as 

4 well using it to hold innocent Israeli hostages. 

5 (7) The United States faces similar subterra6 nean threats on the Korean Peninsula, the southern 

7 border and in various theaters in the Middle East. 

8 (8) Israel shares its anti-tunnel technology with 

9 the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security 

10 who work to advance this technology further enhanc11 ing the United States’ ability to deal with this grow12 ing threat on our own border and around the world. 

13 (9) Since October 7, 2023, there is an increased 

14 need to scale up bilateral cooperation on anti-tun15 neling efforts as a reflection of the complexity of the 

16 subterranean terror reality in Gaza revealed since 

17 the start of Israel’s military campaign. 

18 (10) Such an increase in joint United States19 Israel cooperation will not only benefit Israel but will 

20 also help the United States and allies across the 

21 globe that face similar challenges from subterranean 

22 tunnels. 

23 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

24 Section 1279(b)(4) of the National Defense Author25 ization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (22 U.S.C. 8606 note) 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 7866 IH

1 is amended by striking ‘‘$50,000,000’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘$80,000,000’’. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB