United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015
PL 114-123 (H.R.907), enacted 02/18/2016

130 STAT. 117 
PUBLIC LAW 114–123—FEB. 18, 2016 
Public Law 114–123 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To improve defense cooperation between the United States and the Hashemite 
Kingdom of Jordan. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Jordan Defense 
Cooperation Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) As of January 22, 2015, the United States Government 
has provided $3,046,343,000 in assistance to respond to the 
Syria humanitarian crisis, of which nearly $467,000,000 has 
been provided to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 
(2) As of January 2015, according to the United Nations 
High Commissioner for Refugees, there were 621,937 registered 
Syrian refugees in Jordan and 83.8 percent of whom lived 
outside refugee camps. 
(3) In 2000, the United States and Jordan signed a free- 
trade agreement that went into force in 2001. 
(4) In 1996, the United States granted Jordan major non- 
NATO ally status. 
(5) Jordan is suffering from the Syrian refugee crisis and 
the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 
(6) The Government of Jordan was elected as a non-perma-
nent member of the United Nations Security Council for a 
2-year term ending in December 2015. 
(7) Enhanced support for defense cooperation with Jordan 
is important to the national security of the United States, 
including through creation of a status in law for Jordan similar 
to the countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Israel, and New Zea-
land, with respect to consideration by Congress of foreign mili-
tary sales to Jordan. 
(8) The Colorado National Guard’s relationship with the 
Jordanian military provides a significant benefit to both the 
United States and Jordan. 
(9) Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh was brutally mur-
dered by ISIL. 
(10) On February 3, 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry 
and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh signed a new 
Memorandum of Understanding that reflects the intention to 
increase United States assistance to the Government of Jordan 
Moaz 
al-Kasasbeh. 
United States- 
Jordan Defense 
Cooperation Act 
of 2015. 
22 USC 2751 
note. 
Feb. 18, 2016 
[H.R. 907] 
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130 STAT. 118 
PUBLIC LAW 114–123—FEB. 18, 2016 
from $660,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 for each of the years 2015 
through 2017. 
(11) On December 5, 2014, in an interview on CBS This 
Morning, Jordanian King Abdullah II stated— 
(A) in reference to ISIL, ‘‘This is a Muslim problem. 
We need to take ownership of this. We need to stand 
up and say what is wrong’’; and 
(B) ‘‘This is our war. This is a war inside Islam. So 
we have to own up to it. We have to take the lead. We 
have to start fighting back.’’. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It should be the policy of the United States— 
(1) to support the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in its 
response to the Syrian refugee crisis; 
(2) to provide necessary assistance to alleviate the domestic 
burden to provide basic needs for the assimilated Syrian refu-
gees; 
(3) to cooperate with Jordan to combat the terrorist threat 
from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or other 
terrorist organizations; and 
(4) to help secure the border between Jordan and its neigh-
bors Syria and Iraq. 
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) 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 under section 36(b) of the Arms 
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)) is fully consistent with 
United States security and foreign policy interests and the 
objectives of world peace and security; 
(2) Congress welcomes the statement of King Abdullah 
II quoted in section (2)(11); and 
(3) it is in the interest of peace and stability for regional 
members of the Global Coalition to Combat ISIL to continue 
their commitment to, and increase their involvement in, 
addressing the threat posed by ISIL. 
SEC. 5. ENHANCED DEFENSE COOPERATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—During the 3-year period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Hashemite Kingdom of 
Jordan shall be treated as if it were a country listed in the provi-
sions of law described in subsection (b) for purposes of applying 
and administering such provisions of law. 
(b) ARMS
EXPORT
CONTROL
ACT.—The provisions of law 
described in this subsection are— 
(1) subsections (b)(2), (d)(2)(B), (d)(3)(A)(i), and (d)(5) of 
section 3 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2753); 
(2) subsections (e)(2)(A), (h)(1)(A), and (h)(2) of section 21 
of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2761); 
(3) subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(6), (c), and (d)(2)(A) of sec-
tion 36 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2776); 
(4) section 62(c)(1) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2796a(c)(1)); 
and 
(5) section 63(a)(2) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2796b(a)(2)). 
22 USC 2753 
note. 
Time period. 
Effective date. 
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130 STAT. 119 
PUBLIC LAW 114–123—FEB. 18, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 907 (S. 1789): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 161 (2015): July 7, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 162 (2016): Feb. 3, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Feb. 10, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
SEC. 6. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. 
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of 
State is authorized to enter into a memorandum of understanding 
with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to increase economic sup-
port funds, military cooperation, including joint military exercises, 
personnel exchanges, support for international peacekeeping mis-
sions, and enhanced strategic dialogue. 
Approved February 18, 2016. 
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