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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2165 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2165

To enhance strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel, 
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 6, 2012

 Mrs. Boxer (for herself, Mr. Isakson, and Ms. Collins) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To enhance strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel, 
                        and for other purposes.

    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-Israel Enhanced 
Security Cooperation Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Since the State of Israel was established in 1948, 
        Presidents of both parties and both Houses of Congress, 
        supported by the American people, have recognized the special 
        bond between the United States and Israel, based on shared 
        values and shared interests.
            (2) The Middle East is undergoing rapid change, bringing 
        with it hope for an expansion of democracy but also profound 
        challenges to regional security--particularly to our most 
        important ally, Israel--and to the national security of the 
        United States.
            (3) The past year has witnessed the fall of old regimes and 
        the rise of political parties in the Middle East who must now 
        choose between a course of moderation and inclusion in the 
        international community or a course of extremism and isolation.
            (4) The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is 
        continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking to foment 
        instability in the Middle East, particularly in this time of 
        dramatic political transition.
            (5) At the same time, the Government of the Islamic 
        Republic of Iran continues to enrich uranium in defiance of 
        international law.
            (6) A nuclear-weapons capable Iran would fundamentally 
        threaten vital United States interests, encourage regional 
        nuclear proliferation, further empower Iran, the world's 
        leading state sponsor of terror, and pose a serious and 
        destabilizing threat to Israel and the region.
            (7) Over the past several years, with the assistance of the 
        Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria, 
        Hezbollah and Hamas have increased their stockpile of rockets, 
        with more than 60,000 now ready to be fired at Israel. The 
        Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to develop 
        its missile technology as well, including cruise missiles.
            (8) As a result, the Government and people of Israel are 
        facing a fundamentally altered strategic environment fraught 
        with new and profound challenges.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF UNITED STATES POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States:
            (1) To reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the security 
        of the State of Israel as a Jewish state, as President Barack 
        Obama stated on December 16, 2011, ``America's commitment and 
        my commitment to Israel and Israel's security is unshakeable,'' 
        and as President George W. Bush stated before the Israeli 
        Knesset on May 15, 2008, on the 60th anniversary of the 
        founding of the State of Israel, ``The alliance between our 
        governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship 
        runs deeper than any treaty.''.
            (2) To provide the Government of Israel the military 
        capabilities necessary to deter and defend itself against any 
        threat or possible combination of threats.
            (3) To assist the Government of Israel with its ongoing 
        efforts to forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the 
        Israeli-Palestinian conflict that results in two states living 
        side-by-side in peace and security, and to encourage Israel's 
        neighbors to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish 
        state.
            (4) To veto any one-sided anti-Israel resolutions at the 
        United Nations Security Council.
            (5) To support Israel's inherent right to self-defense.
            (6) To pursue every opportunity to expand cooperation with 
        the Government of Israel on defense and national security 
        matters and across the spectrum of civilian sectors, including 
        advanced technology, agriculture, medicine, health, 
        pharmaceuticals, and energy.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government 
should take the following actions to assist in the defense of Israel:
            (1) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the Governments of 
        the United States and Israel to address emerging common 
        threats, increase security cooperation, and expand joint 
        military exercises.
            (2) Work to encourage an expanded role for Israel within 
        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an 
        enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
            (3) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, 
        including satellite intelligence, with the Government of 
        Israel.
            (4) Examine ways to strengthen existing and ongoing 
        efforts, including the Gaza Counter Arms Smuggling Initiative, 
        aimed at preventing weapons smuggling into Gaza pursuant to the 
        2009 agreement following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as 
        well as measures to protect against weapons smuggling and 
        terrorist threats from the Sinai Peninsula.
            (5) Provide the Government of Israel with necessary support 
        to increase development and production of joint missile defense 
        systems, particularly such systems that defend the urgent 
        threat posed to Israel and United States forces in the region.
            (6) Make every effort to assure the provision to the 
        Government of Israel of defensive equipment through such 
        mechanisms as lend-lease, to include air refueling tankers, 
        missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions.
            (7) Undertake efforts to make available for purchase by the 
        Government of Israel surplus defense items, particularly those 
        resulting from the end of United States combat operations in 
        Iraq.
            (8) Offer the Air Force of Israel additional training and 
        exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for 
        Israel's limited air space.

SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL STEPS TO DEFEND ISRAEL AND PROTECT AMERICAN 
              INTERESTS.

    (a) Extension of War Reserves Stockpile Authority.--
            (1) 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 8 years after'' and inserting ``more than 
        10 years after''.
            (2) 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 ``fiscal years 2011 and 
        2012'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2013 and 2014''.
    (b) Extension of Loan Guarantees to Israel.--Chapter 5 of title I 
of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public 
Law 108-11; 117 Stat. 576) is amended under the heading ``Loan 
Guarantees to Israel''--
            (1) in the matter preceding the first proviso, by striking 
        ``September 30, 2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''; 
        and
            (2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30, 
        2011'' and inserting ``September 30, 2015''.

SEC. 6. REPORTS REQUIRED.

    (a) Report on Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME).--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report on the status of Israel's qualitative military edge in light of 
current trends and instability in the Middle East region, including 
what, if any, mitigating technologies could be provided to the 
Government of Israel to counter increasing threats in the region.
    (b) Reports on Other Matters.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the following matters:
            (1) Actions to improve the acquisition process for the 
        purchase of F-35 aircraft by Israel, particularly with respect 
        to cost efficiency and on-time delivery, taking into account 
        the urgent need of the Government of Israel for such aircraft.
            (2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States 
        Government and the Government of Israel in homeland security, 
        counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cyber-security, 
        and other related areas.
            (3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the 
        Eastern Mediterranean.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 
                on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
                and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; 
                and
                    (B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 
                on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
                and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of 
                the House of Representatives.
            (2) Qualitative military edge.--The term ``qualitative 
        military edge'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)).
                                 <all>
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