Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Afghanistan
Arms control and nonproliferation
Asia
Aviation and airports
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Chemical and biological weapons
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Employee benefits and pensions
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Financial services and investments
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Licensing and registrations
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military operations and strategy
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear weapons
Oil and gas
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Reconstruction and stabilization
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rule of law and government transparency
Russia
Sanctions
Space flight and exploration
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Syria
Technology transfer and commercialization
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
United Nations
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes assistance and weapons transfers to Israel, and extends defense cooperation with Jordan. It establishes additional sanctions related to the conflict in Syria, and allows states to divest from entities boycotting Israel.
 

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2019

 
The bill reauthorizes through FY2028 Foreign Military Financing to Israel. It extends loan guarantees to Israel through FY2023, and authorizes the President to transfer precision-guided munitions to the country. 
 
The bill directs the President to report on steps taken to help Israel secure a strategic trade authorization exception. 
 

United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act

 
The bill extends through 2022 arrangements that allow certain defense articles to be transferred to Jordan on an expedited basis. The bill also directs the President to submit a report to Congress assessing the costs and benefits of establishing a fund to support private investment in Jordan. 
 

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

 
The bill directs the Department of the Treasury to determine whether the Central Bank of Syria is a primary money-laundering concern and, if so, impose special measures on transactions involving the bank. The bill also imposes sanctions on individuals providing support for the Syrian government.
 

Combating BDS Act of 2019

 
The bill allows a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities using boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies. Such measures shall meet various requirements, including those related to written notice and comment. 

action_date: 2019-02-05
text: 

Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes assistance and weapons transfers to Israel, extends defense cooperation with Jordan, establishes additional sanctions related to the conflict in Syria, and allows states to divest from entities boycotting Israel.
 

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2019

 
The bill reauthorizes through FY2028 Foreign Military Financing to Israel. It extends loan guarantees to Israel through FY2023 and authorizes the President to transfer precision-guided munitions to the country. 
 
The bill directs the President to report on steps taken to help Israel secure a strategic trade authorization exception. 
 
The bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to continue working with the Israel Space Agency to pursue peaceful space exploration, and authorizes the Department of State to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Israel to coordinate assistance efforts for developing nations.
 
The President is authorized to enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to develop technology to counter unmanned aerial vehicles. 
 

United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act

 
The bill extends through 2022 arrangements that allow certain defense articles to be transferred to Jordan on an expedited basis. The bill also directs the President to submit a report to Congress assessing the costs and benefits of establishing a fund to support private investment in Jordan. 
 

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019

 
The bill directs the Department of the Treasury to determine whether the Central Bank of Syria is a primary money-laundering concern and, if so, impose special measures on transactions involving the bank. The bill also imposes sanctions on foreign individuals providing support for the Syrian government, or the military forces or contractors acting on behalf of Syria, Russia, or Iran.
 
The sanctions include blocking of financial and property transactions and barring of entry into the United States. Such sanctions shall not apply to various nongovernmental organizations and activities related to providing humanitarian aid or supporting democratic institutions in Syria. 
 
The President may suspend the sanctions under certain conditions, including if it is in the United States' national security interests. 

Combating BDS Act of 2019

 
The bill allows a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities using boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies. Such measures shall meet various requirements, including those related to written notice and comment. It also bars lawsuits against investment companies based solely on a company's decision to divest from entities that use boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies.
 
The bill expresses the sense of the Senate that, before any significant withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria or Afghanistan, the President should certify that the conditions for the enduring defeat of al Qaeda and ISIS have been met. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2019-02-05
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 23. Record Vote Number: 16.
action_date: 2019-02-05
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 23. Record Vote Number: 16.
action_date: 2019-02-05
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S843, S846-857; text: CR S852-857)
action_date: 2019-02-04
text: Cloture on the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 72 - 24. Record Vote Number: 15. (CR S829)
action_date: 2019-02-04
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S819-822, S826-830, S839)
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S776)
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S776-777)
action_date: 2019-01-30
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S755-763)
action_date: 2019-01-29
text: Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S725-736)
action_date: 2019-01-29
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 22. Record Vote Number: 12.
action_date: 2019-01-29
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S725)
action_date: 2019-01-28
text: Motion by Senator McConnell to reconsider the vote by which the third cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 3) rendered moot in Senate.
action_date: 2019-01-28
text: Third cloture motion on the motion to proceed rendered moot in Senate.
action_date: 2019-01-28
text: Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1 invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 19. Record Vote Number: 11. (CR S693)
action_date: 2019-01-28
text: Motion by Senator McConnell to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 1) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2019-01-28
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 1) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2019-01-28
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S688)
action_date: 2019-01-25
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S667)
action_date: 2019-01-24
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S549)
action_date: 2019-01-24
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
action_date: 2019-01-24
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S541)
action_date: 2019-01-23
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S483)
action_date: 2019-01-22
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S326)
action_date: 2019-01-19
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S307)
action_date: 2019-01-18
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S299)
action_date: 2019-01-15
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S187)
action_date: 2019-01-14
text: Motion by Senator McConnell to reconsider the vote by which the third cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 3) entered in Senate.
action_date: 2019-01-14
text: Third cloture on the motion to proceed not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 43. Record Vote Number: 3. (CR S174)
action_date: 2019-01-14
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S166)
action_date: 2019-01-11
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S149-159)
action_date: 2019-01-10
text: Third cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (CR S148)
action_date: 2019-01-10
text: Second cloture on the motion to proceed not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 43. Record Vote Number: 2. (CR S128)
action_date: 2019-01-10
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S115)
action_date: 2019-01-09
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S79)
action_date: 2019-01-08
text: Second cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (CR S48)
action_date: 2019-01-08
text: Motion by Senator McConnell to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 1) entered in Senate.
action_date: 2019-01-08
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 56 - 44. Record Vote Number: 1. (CR S48)
action_date: 2019-01-08
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S38)
action_date: 2019-01-04
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (CR S31)
action_date: 2019-01-04
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S31)
action_date: 2019-01-04
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate