United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriations of funds to Israel, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Appropriate congressional committees defined. TITLE I—Security Assistance for Israel Sec. 101. Findings. Sec. 102. Statement of policy regarding Israel’s defense systems. Sec. 103. Assistance for Israel. Sec. 104. Extension of war reserves stockpile authority. Sec. 105. Extension of loan guarantees to Israel. Sec. 106. Joint assessment of quantity of precision guided munitions for use by Israel. Sec. 107. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel. Sec. 108. Modification of rapid acquisition and deployment procedures. Sec. 109. Eligibility of Israel for the strategic trade authorization exception to certain export control licensing requirements. TITLE II—Enhanced United States-Israel Cooperation Sec. 201. United States-Israel space cooperation. Sec. 202. United States Agency for International Development—Israel enhanced cooperation. Sec. 203. Authority to enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to counter unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten the United States or Israel. TITLE III—Ensuring Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge Sec. 301. Improved reporting on enhancing Israel’s qualitative military edge and security posture. Sec. 302. Statement of policy. 2. Appropriate congressional committees defined In this Act, the term appropriate congressional committees (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. I Security Assistance for Israel 101. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) In April 1998, the United States designated Israel as a major non-NATO ally (2) On August 16, 2007, the United States and Israel signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding on United States military assistance to Israel. The total assistance over the course of this understanding would equal $30,000,000,000. (3) On July 27, 2012, the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–150 22 U.S.C. 8601 to help the Government of Israel preserve its qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional political transformation provide Israel defense articles and services, to include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions (4) On December 19, 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–296 to continue to provide Israel with robust security assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome Missile Defense System (5) Section 1679 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 ( Public Law 114–92 (6) On June 22, 2016, Senate Resolution 508 (114th Congress) was introduced in the United States Senate, expressing support for the expeditious consideration and finalization of a new, robust, and long-term Memorandum of Understanding on military assistance to Israel between the United States Government and the Government of Israel. (7) Senate Resolution 508 provides that the Senate— (A) reaffirms that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States (B) reaffirms that it is the policy and law of the United States to ensure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge and has the capacity and capability to defend itself from all credible military threats (C) reaffirms United States support of a robust Israeli tiered missile defense program (D) supports continued discussions between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel for a robust and long-term Memorandum of Understanding on United States military assistance to Israel (E) urges the expeditious finalization of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel (F) supports a robust and long-term Memorandum of Understanding negotiated between the United States and Israel regarding military assistance which increases the amount of aid from previous agreements and significantly enhances Israel's military capabilities (8) On September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming the importance of continuing annual United States military assistance to Israel and cooperative missile defense programs in a way that enhances Israel’s security and strengthens the bilateral relationship between the two countries. (9) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflected United States support of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to Israel over the ten year period beginning in fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028. FMF grant assistance would be at a level of $3,300,000,000 annually, totaling $33,000,000,000, the largest United States assistance package ever and a reiteration of the seven-decade, unshakeable, bipartisan commitment of the United States to Israel’s security. (10) The Memorandum of Understanding also reflected United States support for funding for cooperative programs to develop, produce, and procure missile, rocket, and projectile defense capabilities over a ten year period beginning in fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028 at a level of $500,000,000 per year, totaling $5,000,000,000. 102. Statement of policy regarding Israel’s defense systems It shall be the policy of the United States to provide assistance to the Government of Israel in order to support funding for cooperative programs to develop, produce, and procure missile, rocket, projectile, and other defense capabilities to help Israel meet its security needs and to help develop and enhance United States defense capabilities. 103. Assistance for Israel (a) Authorization of appropriations for Israel Section 513(c) of the Security Assistance Act of 2000 ( Public Law 106–280 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking 2002 and 2003 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking equal to— not less than $3,300,000,000. (B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B). 104. Extension of war reserves stockpile authority (a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 Section 12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 ( Public Law 108–287 after September 30, 2018 after September 30, 2023 (b) 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) 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. 105. Extension of loan guarantees to Israel Chapter 5 of title I of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 ( Public Law 108–11 Loan Guarantees to Israel (1) in the matter preceding the first proviso, by striking September 30, 2019 September 30, 2023 (2) in the second proviso, by striking September 30, 2019 September 30, 2023 106. Joint assessment of quantity of precision guided munitions for use by Israel (a) In general The President, acting through the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is authorized to conduct a joint assessment with the Government of Israel with respect to the matters described in subsection (b). (b) Matters described The matters described in this subsection are the following: (1) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions that are necessary for Israel to combat Hezbollah in the event of a sustained armed confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. (2) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions that are necessary for Israel in the event of a sustained armed confrontation with other armed groups and terrorist organizations such as Hamas. (3) The resources the Government of Israel can plan to dedicate to acquire such precision guided munitions. (4) United States planning to assist Israel to prepare for sustained armed confrontations described in this subsection as well as the ability of the United States to resupply Israel in the event of confrontations described in paragraphs (1) and (2), if any. (c) Report (1) In general Not later than 15 days after the date on which the joint assessment authorized under subsection (a) is completed, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the joint assessment. (2) Form The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex. 107. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel (a) In general Notwithstanding section 514 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2321h (1) to utilize the Special Defense Acquisition Fund to transfer precision guided munitions and related defense articles and services to reserve stocks for Israel; and (2) to transfer such quantities of precision guided munitions from reserve stocks for Israel as necessary for legitimate self-defense and otherwise consistent with the purposes and conditions for such transfers under the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 (b) Certifications Except in case of emergency, not later than 5 days before making a transfer under this section, the President shall certify in an unclassified notification to the appropriate congressional committees that the transfer of the precision guided munitions— (1) does not affect the ability of the United States to maintain a sufficient supply of precision guided munitions; (2) does not harm the combat readiness of the United States or the ability of the United States to meet its commitment to allies for the transfer of such munitions; and (3) is absolutely necessary for Israel to counter the threat of rockets in a timely fashion. 108. Modification of rapid acquisition and deployment procedures (a) Requirement To establish procedures (1) In general Section 806(a) of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 ( 10 U.S.C. 2302 Public Law 107–314 (A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) urgently needed to support production of precision guided munitions— (A) for United States counterterrorism missions; or (B) to assist an ally of the United States under direct missile threat from— (i) an organization the Secretary of State has designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 (ii) a country the government of which the Secretary of State has determined, for purposes of section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 ( 50 U.S.C. 4605(j) 22 U.S.C. 2371 22 U.S.C. 2780 . (2) Prescription of procedures Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe procedures for the rapid acquisition and deployment of supplies and associated support services for purposes described in paragraph (3) of section 806(a) of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, as added by paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection. (b) Use of amounts in special defense acquisition fund Section 114(c)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: or to assist an ally of the United States that is under direct missile threat, including from a terrorist organization supported by Iran, and such threat adversely affects the safety and security of such ally 109. Eligibility of Israel for the strategic trade authorization exception to certain export control licensing requirements (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Israel has adopted high standards in the field of export controls. (2) Israel has declared its unilateral adherence to the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. (3) Israel is a party to— (A) the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, signed at Geneva October 10, 1980; (B) the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva June 17, 1925; and (C) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, adopted at Vienna October 26, 1979. (4) Section 6(b) of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 ( 22 U.S.C. 8603 (5) As of December 27, 2016, the last publication of the license exceptions country list, Israel had not been included for the strategic trade authorization exception under section 740.20 (c) (1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations. (b) Report on eligibility for strategic trade authorization exception (1) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that— (A) describes the steps taken to include Israel in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception under section 740.20(c)(1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, as required under 6(b) of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 ( 22 U.S.C. 8603 Public Law 113–296 (B) includes the reasons as to why Israel has not yet been included in such list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception. (2) Form The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex. II Enhanced United States-Israel Cooperation 201. United States-Israel space cooperation (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Authorized in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) supports and coordinates United States Government research in aeronautics, human exploration and operations, science, and space technology. (2) Established in 1983, the Israel Space Agency (ISA) supports the growth of Israel's space industry by supporting academic research, technological innovation, and educational activities. (3) The mutual interest of the United States and Israel in space exploration affords both nations an opportunity to leverage their unique abilities to advance scientific discovery. (4) In 1996, NASA and the ISA entered into their first agreement outlining areas of mutual cooperation, which remained in force until 2005. (5) Since 1996, NASA and the ISA have successfully cooperated on many space programs supporting the Global Positioning System and research related to the sun, earth science, and the environment. (6) The bond between NASA and the ISA was permanently forged on February 1, 2003, with the loss of the crew of STS–107, including Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon. (7) The United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act Of 2014 ( Public Law 113–296 (8) On October 13, 2015, the United States and Israel signed the Framework Agreement between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of America and the Israel Space Agency for Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. (b) Continuing cooperation The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall continue to work with the Israel Space Agency to identify and cooperatively pursue peaceful space exploration and science initiatives in areas of mutual interest, taking all appropriate measures to protect sensitive information, intellectual property, trade secrets, and economic interests of the United States. 202. United States Agency for International Development—Israel enhanced cooperation (a) Statement of policy It should be the policy of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to cooperate with Israel in order to advance common goals across a wide variety of sectors, including energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, human rights and governance, economic growth and trade, education, environment, global health, and water and sanitation. (b) Memorandum of understanding The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development is authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel in order to advance common goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, human rights and governance, economic growth and trade, education, environment, global health, and water and sanitation with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and cooperation with nations throughout the world. 203. Authority to enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to counter unmanned aerial vehicles that threaten the United States or Israel (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) On February 10, 2018, Iran launched from Syria an unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly known as a drone (2) Israeli officials noted that the unmanned aerial vehicle was in Israeli airspace for a minute-and-a-half before being shot down by its air force. (3) Senior Israeli officials stated that the unmanned aerial vehicle was an advanced piece of technology. (4) It remains unclear whether the unmanned aerial vehicle was armed. Nonetheless, the launch, and sophistication of the unmanned aerial vehicle, highlight the threat Israel faces from unmanned aerial vehicles from Iranian forces active in Syria and from Hezbollah in Lebanon. (5) The United States likewise faces the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles along the United States border and in areas of active hostilities, including Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) drones in Syria and Iraq and al Qaeda manufactured drones in Afghanistan. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) joint research and development to counter unmanned aerial vehicles will serve the national security interests of the United States and Israel; (2) Israel faces urgent and emerging threats from unmanned aerial vehicles, and other unmanned vehicles, launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah, from Syria by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, or from others seeking to attack Israel; and (3) the United States and Israel should continue to work together to defend against all threats to the safety, security, and national interests of both countries. (c) Authority To enter into agreement (1) In general The President is authorized to enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel under the authority of section 27 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2767 (2) Applicable requirements The cooperative project agreement described in paragraph (1)— (A) shall provide that any activities carried out pursuant to the agreement are subject to— (i) the applicable requirements described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 27(b)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2767(b)(2) (ii) any other applicable requirements of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 (B) shall establish a framework to negotiate the rights to intellectual property developed under the agreement. III Ensuring Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge 301. Improved reporting on enhancing Israel’s qualitative military edge and security posture Section 201(c)(2) the Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2008 is amended by adding at the end the following: “The report shall include an assessment of— (A) the ability of Israel to effectively defend itself against military threats from regional non-state actors; (B) the risk that is posed by the sale or export of a subsequent unauthorized transfer or proliferation of the equipment for use against Israel; (C) the range of cyber and asymmetric threats posed to Israel by state and non-state actors; (D) the range of threats posed to Israel by state and non-state actors through the use of unmanned vehicles and systems, through air, land, or water; and (E) the effective countermeasures available to Israel to defend against the risks and threats described in subparagraphs (B) through (D). . 302. Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to ensure that Israel maintains its ability to counter and defeat any credible conventional military, or emerging, threat from any individual state or possible coalition of states or from non-state actors, while sustaining minimal damages and casualties, through the use of superior military means, possessed in sufficient quantity, including weapons, command, control, communication, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities that in their technical characteristics are superior in capability to those of such other individual or possible coalition states or non-state actors.

Summary: United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 This bill extends security assistance to Israel. Specifically, it extends: foreign military financing assistance to Israel through FY2028, loan guarantees through FY2023, and authority for the war reserves stockpile through FY2023. The President may: enter into a cooperative agreement with Israel for research and joint production of anti-drone defense articles; conduct a joint assessment with Israel regarding which precision guided munitions Israel needs in a sustained armed confrontation with Hezbollah, Hamas, or other groups; and transfer precision guided munitions and defense articles to such stockpile. The bill directs the Department of Defense to provide for the rapid acquisition and deployment of precision guided munitions for U.S. counterterrorism missions or to assist an ally under missile threat from a terrorist organization or a country that supports international terrorism. The President shall report to Congress describing the steps taken to include Israel in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception. Such exception allows a controlled item to be exported without a transaction-specific license. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall continue to work with the Israel Space Agency to pursue peaceful space exploration and science initiatives. The bill also requires the periodic reports on Israel's qualitative military edge to include information about Israel's ability to defend itself from regional state and non-state actors and from drone, cyber, and asymmetric threats.