United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1789
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Foreign aid and international relief
Iraq
Jordan
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military education and training
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Syria
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015 

 
Expresses the sense of Congress that 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 is fully consistent with U. S. security and foreign policy interests and the objectives of world peace and security.
 
Amends the Arms Export Control Act to include Jordan among the countries eligible for certain streamlined defense sales for three years.
 
Authorizes the Department of State to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Jordan to increase economic support funds and military cooperation, including joint military exercises, personnel exchanges, support for international peacekeeping missions, and enhanced strategic dialogue.

action_date: 2015-10-27
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) Specifies the findings of Congress that: 
 
 
 as of January 22, 2015, the United States has provided over $3 billion in assistance to respond to the Syria humanitarian crisis, of which nearly $467 million has been provided to Jordan; 
 
 as of January 2015, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there were 621,937 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan, 83.8% of whom lived outside refugee camps; 
 
 in 2000 the United States and Jordan signed a free-trade agreement that went into force in 2001; 
 
 in 1996 the United States granted Jordan major non-NATO ally status; and 
 
 Jordan is suffering from the Syrian refugee crisis and the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
 
 
(Sec. 3) Urges that U.S. policy should be to: 
 
 
 support Jordan in its response to the Syrian refugee crisis, 
 
 provide necessary assistance to support the basic needs of the assimilated Syrian refugees, 
 
 cooperate with Jordan to combat the terrorist threat from ISIL or other terrorist organizations, and 
 
 help secure the border between Jordan and Syria and Iraq. 
 
 
(Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that expeditious consideration of certifications of letters of offer to sell defense articles, defense services, design and construction services, and major defense equipment to Jordan is fully consistent with U. S. security and foreign policy interests and the objectives of world peace and security.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to include Jordan among the countries eligible for certain streamlined defense sales for three years.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes the Department of State to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Jordan to increase economic support funds and military cooperation, including joint military exercises, personnel exchanges, support for international peacekeeping missions, and enhanced strategic dialogue.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 281.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-10-08
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate