IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 324 
Recognizing the importance of the United States-Israel economic relationship 
and encouraging new areas of cooperation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 18, 2019 
Mr. TED LIEU of California (for himself and Mr. ALLEN) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the importance of the United States-Israel eco-
nomic relationship and encouraging new areas of co-
operation. 
Whereas the deep bond between the United States and Israel 
is exemplified by its many facets, including the robust 
economic and commercial relationship; 
Whereas, on April 22, 2019, the United States will celebrate 
the 34th anniversary of its free trade agreement with 
Israel, which was the first free trade agreement entered 
into by the United States; 
Whereas the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement es-
tablished a joint committee to facilitate the agreement 
and collaborate on efforts to increase bilateral coopera-
tion and investment; 
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Whereas since the signing of this agreement, two-way trade 
has multiplied tenfold to over $47,100,000,000 annually; 
Whereas Israel is the largest importer of United States goods 
in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region de-
spite representing only 2 percent of the region’s popu-
lation; 
Whereas nearly 40 percent of all investment in the United 
States from the MENA region comes from Israel; 
Whereas Israel has more companies listed on the NASDAQ 
Stock Exchange than any other country except for the 
United States and China; 
Whereas, in 1956, the United States-Israel Education Foun-
dation was established to administer the Fulbright Pro-
gram in Israel and has facilitated the exchange of nearly 
3,300 students between the United States and Israel 
since its inception; 
Whereas, in 1972, the United States-Israel Binational 
Science Foundation was established to promote scientific 
relations between the United States and Israel by sup-
porting collaborative research projects in basic and ap-
plied scientific fields and has generated investments of 
over $480,000,000 to over 4,000 projects since its incep-
tion; 
Whereas Binational Science Foundation grant recipients have 
included 45 Nobel laureates, 19 winners of the Albert 
Lasker Medical Research Award, and 38 recipients of the 
Wolf Prize; 
Whereas, in 1977, the United States-Israel Binational Indus-
trial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD) was 
established to stimulate, promote, and support non-
defense industrial research and development of mutual 
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benefit to both countries in agriculture, communications, 
life sciences, electronics, electro-optics, energy, health 
care information technology, homeland security, software, 
water, and other technologies, and has provided over 
$300,000,000 to over 700 joint projects since its incep-
tion; 
Whereas recent successful BIRD projects include the ReWalk 
system that helps paraplegics walk, a medical teaching 
simulator for laparoscopic hysterectomies, and a new 
drug to treat chronic gout; 
Whereas, in 1978, the United States-Israel Binational Agri-
cultural Research and Development Fund was established 
as a competitive funding program for mutually beneficial, 
mission-oriented, strategic, and applied research of agri-
cultural problems conducted jointly by United States and 
Israel scientists and has provided over $250,000,000 to 
over 1,000 projects since its inception; 
Whereas an independent review of the United States-Israel 
Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund 
estimated that the dollar benefits of just 10 of its 
projects through 2010 came to $440,000,000 in the 
United States and $300,000,000 in Israel, far exceeding 
total investment in the program; 
Whereas, in 1984, the United States and Israel began con-
vening the Joint Economic Development Group to regu-
larly discuss economic conditions and identify new oppor-
tunities for collaboration; 
Whereas, in 1994, the United States-Israel Science and Tech-
nology Foundation (USISTF) was established to promote 
the advancement of science and technology for mutual 
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economic benefit and has developed joint research and 
development programs that reach 12 States; 
Whereas the United States-Israel Innovation Index, which 
was developed by USISTF to track and benchmark inno-
vation relationships, ranks the United States-Israel inno-
vation relationship as top-tier; 
Whereas, in 2007, the BIRD energy program was established 
to provide support for joint United States-Israel research 
and development of renewable energy and energy effi-
ciency, and has provided $18,000,000 to 20 joint projects 
since its founding; 
Whereas, since 2011, the United States Department of En-
ergy and the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures, 
Energy and Water Resources have led an annual United 
States-Israel Energy Meeting with participants across 
government agencies to facilitate bilateral cooperation in 
that sector; 
Whereas, in 2012, Congress passed and President Barack 
Obama signed into law the United States-Israel En-
hanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 (Public Law 
112–150), which set United States policy to expand bilat-
eral cooperation across the spectrum of civilian sectors, 
including high technology, agriculture, medicine, health, 
pharmaceuticals, and energy; 
Whereas, in 2013, President Obama said in reference to 
Israel’s contribution to the global economy, ‘‘That inno-
vation is just as important to the relationship between 
the United States and Israel as our security coopera-
tion’’; 
Whereas, in 2014, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew said, 
‘‘As one of the most technologically-advanced and innova-
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