I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4485 
To further the preparedness of the United States Armed Forces, in coopera-
tion with regional allies, to prevent the Government of Iran from obtain-
ing a nuclear weapon, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 24, 2012 
Mr. CONAWAY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To further the preparedness of the United States Armed 
Forces, in cooperation with regional allies, to prevent 
the Government of Iran from obtaining a nuclear weap-
on, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Credible Military Option to Counter Iran Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of policy. 
Sec. 3. United States military preparedness in the Middle East. 
Sec. 4. United States military capabilities in the Central Command Area of Re-
sponsibility. 
Sec. 5. Enhancing the defense of Israel and United States interests in the Mid-
dle East. 
Sec. 6. Plan to enhance military capabilities of Persian Gulf allies. 
Sec. 7. Plan to increase strategic regional partnerships. 
Sec. 8. Definitions. 
SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Iran, which has long sought to foment in-
stability and promote extremism in the Middle East, 
is now seeking to exploit the dramatic political tran-
sition underway in the region to undermine govern-
ments traditionally aligned with the United States 
and support extremist political movements in these 
countries. 
(2) At the same time, Iran may soon attain a 
nuclear weapons capability, a development that 
would fundamentally threaten vital United States in-
terests, destabilize the region, encourage regional 
nuclear proliferation, further empower and embolden 
Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, 
and provide it the tools to threaten its neighbors, in-
cluding Israel. 
(3) With the assistance of Iran over the past 
several years, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas have in-
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creased their stockpiles of rockets, with more than 
60,000 rockets now ready to be fired at Israel. Iran 
continues to add to its arsenal of ballistic missiles 
and cruise missiles, which threaten Iran’s neighbors, 
Israel, and United States Armed Forces in the re-
gion. 
(4) Preventing Iran from achieving nuclear 
weapons capability is among the most urgent na-
tional security challenges facing the United States. 
(5) Successive United States administrations 
have stated that a nuclear weapons-possessing Iran 
is unacceptable. 
(6) President Obama stated on January 24, 
2012, ‘‘Let there be no doubt: America is deter-
mined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weap-
on, and I will take no options off the table to achieve 
that goal.’’. 
(7) In order to prevent Iran from developing 
nuclear weapons, the United States, in cooperation 
with its allies, must utilize all elements of national 
power including diplomacy, robust economic sanc-
tions, and credible, visible preparations for a mili-
tary option. 
(8) Nevertheless, to date, diplomatic overtures, 
sanctions, and other non-kinetic actions toward Iran 
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have not caused the Government of Iran to abandon 
its nuclear weapons program. 
(9) With the impact of additional sanctions un-
certain, additional pressure on the Government of 
Iran could come from the credible threat of military 
action against Iran’s nuclear program. 
(b) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—It shall be the policy 
of the United States to take all necessary measures, in-
cluding military action if required, to prevent Iran from 
threatening the United States, its allies, or Iran’s neigh-
bors with a nuclear weapon. 
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES MILITARY PREPAREDNESS IN THE 
MIDDLE EAST. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) military exercises conducted in the Persian 
Gulf and Gulf of Oman emphasize the United States 
resolve and the policy of the United States described 
in section 2(b) by enhancing the readiness of the 
United States military and allied forces, as well as 
signaling to the Government of Iran the commitment 
of the United States to defend its vital national se-
curity interests; and 
(2) the President, as Commander in Chief, 
should require the United States military to develop 
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a comprehensive plan to augment the presence of the 
United States Fifth Fleet in the Middle East and to 
conduct military deployments, exercises, or other 
visible, concrete military readiness activities to un-
derscore the policy of the United States described in 
section 2(b). 
(b) PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall prepare a plan to augment the presence of the 
United States Fifth Fleet in the Middle East and to 
conduct military deployments, exercises, or other 
visible, concrete military readiness activities to un-
derscore the policy of the United States described in 
section 2(b). 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The plan re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall include, at a min-
imum, steps necessary to support the policy of the 
United States described in section 2(b), including— 
(A) pre-positioning sufficient supplies of 
aircraft, munitions, fuel, and other materials 
for both air- and sea-based missions at key for-
ward locations in the Middle East and Indian 
Ocean; 
(B) maintaining sufficient naval assets in 
the region necessary to signal United States re-
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solve and to bolster United States capabilities 
to launch a sustained sea and air campaign 
against a range of Iranian nuclear and military 
targets, to protect seaborne shipping, and to 
deny Iranian retaliation against United States 
interests in the region; 
(C) discussing the viability of deploying at 
least two United States aircraft carriers, an ad-
ditional large deck amphibious ship, and a Mine 
Countermeasures Squadron in the region on a 
continual basis, in support of the actions de-
scribed in subparagraph (B); and 
(D) conducting naval fleet exercises similar 
to the United States Fifth Fleet’s major exer-
cise in the region in March 2007 to dem-
onstrate ability to keep the Strait of Hormuz 
open and to counter the use of anti-ship mis-
siles and swarming high-speed boats. 
(3) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The plan re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to 
the congressional defense committees not later than 
120 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 4. UNITED STATES MILITARY CAPABILITIES IN THE 
CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSI-
BILITY. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FIS-
CAL YEAR 2012.—In order to enhance United States mili-
tary capabilities in the Central Command Area of Respon-
sibility, funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal year 2012 as follows: 
(1) $80,000,000 for Other Procurement, Navy 
to be available for MK 38 Mod 2 machine gun sys-
tem for Coastal Patrol Craft. 
(2) $44,600,000 for Weapons Procurement, 
Navy to be available for— 
(A) Griffin missile for Coastal Patrol 
Craft; and 
(B) 
Spike 
shoulder-fired 
electro-optic 
weapon. 
(3) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, 
Test and Evaluation, Navy to be available for— 
(A) Program Element 0205601N for dig-
ital rocket launchers; 
(B) Beyond line of sight command and 
control architecture; and 
(C) MAGIC VIEW. 
(4) $134,552,000 for Research, Development, 
Test and Evaluation, Air Force to be available for 
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Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat System Pro-
gram, Program Element 0604327F. 
(5) $7,000,000 for Research, Development, 
Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide to be available 
for— 
(A) Indications and Warning; and 
(B) Systems Performance. 
(6) $14,000,000 for Operation and Mainte-
nance, Navy to be available for Scan Eagle. 
(7) $2,000,000 for Operation and Maintenance, 
Air Force to be available for tactics development and 
evaluation. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FIS-
CAL YEAR 2013.—In order to enhance United States mili-
tary capabilities in the Central Command Area of Respon-
sibility, funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal year 2013 as follows: 
(1) $22,654,000 for Other Procurement, Navy 
to be available for— 
(A) Underwater Explosive Ordnance Dis-
posal Programs; 
(B) Naval Military Intelligence Program 
Support Equipment; and 
(C) MK 38 Mod 2 machine gun system for 
Coastal Patrol Craft. 
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(2) $31,000,000 for Weapons Procurement, 
Navy to be available for— 
(A) Griffin missile for Coastal Patrol 
Craft; and 
(B) 
Spike 
shoulder-fired 
electro-optic 
weapon. 
(3) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, 
Test and Evaluation, Army to be available for Un-
manned Aerial Vehicle Detection and Tracking. 
(4) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, 
Test and Evaluation, Navy to be available for— 
(A) Joint Service Explosive Ordnance De-
velopment, Program Element 0603654N; 
(B) Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Mis-
sile in Program Element 0205601N; and 
(C) Integrated, Fixed Surveillance System, 
Program Element 0204311N. 
(5) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, 
Test and Evaluation, Air Force to be available for 
Cyber Command Activities within Program Element 
0208059F. 
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SEC. 5. ENHANCING THE DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AND UNITED 
STATES INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States should take the following ac-
tions to assist in the defense of Israel: 
(1) Provide Israel such support as may be nec-
essary to increase development and production of 
joint missile defense systems, particularly such sys-
tems that defend the urgent threat posed to Israel 
and United States forces in the region. 
(2) Provide Israel defense articles, intelligence, 
and defense services through such mechanisms as 
appropriate, to include air refueling tankers, missile 
defense capabilities, and specialized munitions. 
(3) Allocate additional weaponry and munitions 
for the forward-deployed United States stockpile in 
Israel. 
(4) Provide Israel additional surplus defense ar-
ticles and defense services, as appropriate, in the 
wake of the withdrawal of United States forces from 
Iraq. 
(5) Offer the Israeli Air Force additional train-
ing and exercise opportunities in the United States 
to compensate for Israel’s limited air space. 
(6) Expand Israel’s authority to make pur-
chases under section 23 of the Arms Export Control 
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Act (relating to the ‘‘Foreign Military Financing’’ 
program) on a commercial basis. 
(7) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the 
United States and Israel to address emerging com-
mon threats, increase security cooperation, and ex-
pand joint military exercises. 
(8) Encourage an expanded role for Israel with-
in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 
including an enhanced presence at NATO head-
quarters and exercises. 
(9) Support extension of the long-standing loan 
guarantee program for Israel, recognizing Israel’s 
unbroken record of repaying its loans on time and 
in full. 
(10) Expand already-close intelligence coopera-
tion, including satellite intelligence, with Israel. 
(b) REPORT ON ISRAEL’S QUALITATIVE MILITARY 
EDGE.— 
(1) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of 
the United States— 
(A) to help Israel preserve its qualitative 
military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional 
political transformation; and 
(B) to encourage further development of 
advanced technology programs between the 
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United States and Israel in light of current 
trends and instability in the region. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report on the status of Israel’s qualitative 
military edge in light of current trends and insta-
bility in the region. 
(c) REPORT 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 each of the following: 
(1) Taking into account Israel’s urgent require-
ment for F–35 aircraft, actions to improve the proc-
ess relating to Israel’s purchase of F–35 aircraft to 
improve cost efficiency and timely delivery. 
(2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the 
United States and Israel in homeland defense, 
counter-terrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity, 
and other appropriate areas. 
(3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense 
of the Eastern Mediterranean. 
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SEC. 6. PLAN TO ENHANCE MILITARY CAPABILITIES OF 
PERSIAN GULF ALLIES. 
(a) PLAN.—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, shall develop a plan to en-
hance the military capabilities of Persian Gulf allies to bol-
ster the posture of such allies in relation to Iran. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The plan required 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the means to augment the 
offensive strike capabilities of key Gulf Cooperation 
Council allies, including the potential sale or up-
grades of strike attack aircraft and bunker buster 
munitions, to augment the viability of a credible 
military option and to strengthen such allies’ self-de-
fense capabilities against retaliation or military ag-
gression by Iran. 
(2) A needs-based assessment, or an update to 
an existing needs-based assessment, of the military 
requirements of Persian Gulf allies to support a 
credible military option and to defend against poten-
tial military aggression by Iran. 
(3) A detailed summary of any arms sales and 
training requests by Persian Gulf allies and a de-
scription and justification for United States actions 
taken. 
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(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the plan 
required under subsection (a) shall be construed to alter 
Israel’s qualitative military edge. 
(d) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The plan required 
under subsection (a) shall be submitted to the appropriate 
congressional committees not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(e) FORM.—The plan required under subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may con-
tain a classified annex. 
SEC. 7. PLAN TO INCREASE STRATEGIC REGIONAL PART-
NERSHIPS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States should ensure that it has 
the broadest set of geographic approaches to mili-
tarily access Iran. 
(2) United States Armed Forces and support 
staff currently have access from the eastern, south-
ern, and western borders of Iran. 
(3) Azerbaijan borders the northern frontier of 
Iran closest to nuclear sites near Tehran and the 
Government of Azerbaijan cooperates with the 
United States on Caspian Sea security and energy 
issues. 
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(b) POLICY.—It shall be the policy of the United 
States to— 
(1) increase pressure on Iran by providing 
United States Armed Forces with the broadest set 
of geographic approaches to militarily access Iran; 
and 
(2) explore means to enhance access to military 
facilities on the northern border of Iran. 
(c) PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall de-
velop a plan to increase the strategic partnership 
with regional allies to provide United States Armed 
Forces with the broadest set of geographic ap-
proaches to militarily access Iran. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The plan re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall include the fol-
lowing information: 
(A) Mechanisms to broaden the geo-
graphical approaches to militarily access Iran. 
(B) The need, if any, to strengthen the 
self-defense capabilities of regional allies as a 
result of such partnerships. 
(C) The viability of increasing access for 
United States Armed Forces to bases in Azer-
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baijan to augment the viability of a credible 
military option. 
(3) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The plan re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to 
the appropriate congressional committees not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the 
Committee on Armed Services, and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the 
Committee on Armed Services, and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES.— 
The term ‘‘congressional defense committees’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) 
of title 10, United States Code. 
(3) QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE.—The term 
‘‘qualitative military edge’’ has the meaning given 
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the term in section 36(h)(2) of the Arms Export 
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)). 
Æ 
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