PUBLIC LAW 114–123—FEB. 18, 2016 130 STAT. 117 

Public Law 114–123 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To improve defense cooperation between the United States and the Hashemite 

Kingdom of Jordan. 

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 ‘‘United States-Jordan Defense 

Cooperation Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress makes the following findings: 

(1) As of January 22, 2015, the United States Government 

has provided $3,046,343,000 in assistance to respond to the 

Syria humanitarian crisis, of which nearly $467,000,000 has 

been provided to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 

(2) As of January 2015, according to the United Nations 

High Commissioner for Refugees, there were 621,937 registered 

Syrian refugees in Jordan and 83.8 percent of whom lived 

outside refugee camps. 

(3) In 2000, the United States and Jordan signed a freetrade agreement that went into force in 2001. 

(4) In 1996, the United States granted Jordan major nonNATO ally status. 

(5) Jordan is suffering from the Syrian refugee crisis and 

the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 

(6) The Government of Jordan was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for a 

2-year term ending in December 2015. 

(7) Enhanced support for defense cooperation with Jordan 

is important to the national security of the United States, 

including through creation of a status in law for Jordan similar 

to the countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 

Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Israel, and New Zealand, with respect to consideration by Congress of foreign military sales to Jordan. 

(8) The Colorado National Guard’s relationship with the 

Jordanian military provides a significant benefit to both the 

United States and Jordan. 

(9) Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh was brutally murdered by ISIL. 

(10) On February 3, 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry 

and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh signed a new 

Memorandum of Understanding that reflects the intention to 

increase United States assistance to the Government of Jordan 

Moaz 

al-Kasasbeh. 

United StatesJordan Defense 

Cooperation Act 

of 2015. 

22 USC 2751 

note. 

Feb. 18, 2016 

[H.R. 907] 


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130 STAT. 118 PUBLIC LAW 114–123—FEB. 18, 2016 

from $660,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 for each of the years 2015 

through 2017. 

(11) On December 5, 2014, in an interview on CBS This 

Morning, Jordanian King Abdullah II stated— 

(A) in reference to ISIL, ‘‘This is a Muslim problem. 

We need to take ownership of this. We need to stand 

up and say what is wrong’’; and 

(B) ‘‘This is our war. This is a war inside Islam. So 

we have to own up to it. We have to take the lead. We 

have to start fighting back.’’. 

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

It should be the policy of the United States— 

(1) to support the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in its 

response to the Syrian refugee crisis; 

(2) to provide necessary assistance to alleviate the domestic 

burden to provide basic needs for the assimilated Syrian refugees; 

(3) to cooperate with Jordan to combat the terrorist threat 

from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or other 

terrorist organizations; and 

(4) to help secure the border between Jordan and its neighbors Syria and Iraq. 

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

It is the sense of Congress that— 

(1) expeditious consideration of certifications of letters of 

offer to sell defense articles, defense services, design and 

construction services, and major defense equipment to the 

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under section 36(b) of the Arms 

Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)) is fully consistent with 

United States security and foreign policy interests and the 

objectives of world peace and security; 

(2) Congress welcomes the statement of King Abdullah 

II quoted in section (2)(11); and 

(3) it is in the interest of peace and stability for regional 

members of the Global Coalition to Combat ISIL to continue 

their commitment to, and increase their involvement in, 

addressing the threat posed by ISIL. 

SEC. 5. ENHANCED DEFENSE COOPERATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—During the 3-year period beginning on the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the Hashemite Kingdom of 

Jordan shall be treated as if it were a country listed in the provisions of law described in subsection (b) for purposes of applying 

and administering such provisions of law. 

(b) ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT.—The provisions of law 

described in this subsection are— 

(1) subsections (b)(2), (d)(2)(B), (d)(3)(A)(i), and (d)(5) of 

section 3 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2753); 

(2) subsections (e)(2)(A), (h)(1)(A), and (h)(2) of section 21 

of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2761); 

(3) subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(6), (c), and (d)(2)(A) of section 36 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2776); 

(4) section 62(c)(1) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2796a(c)(1)); 

and 

(5) section 63(a)(2) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2796b(a)(2)). 

22 USC 2753 

note. 

Time period. 

Effective date. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–123—FEB. 18, 2016 130 STAT. 119 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 907 (S. 1789): 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 161 (2015): July 7, considered and passed House. 

Vol. 162 (2016): Feb. 3, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Feb. 10, House concurred in Senate amendment. 

Æ 

SEC. 6. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of 

State is authorized to enter into a memorandum of understanding 

with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to increase economic support funds, military cooperation, including joint military exercises, 

personnel exchanges, support for international peacekeeping missions, and enhanced strategic dialogue. 

Approved February 18, 2016. 


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