,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ich ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #d1 #bjac ,ms4 ,ros-,lehtinen 7for herself and ,mr4 ,deutch7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committees on the ,judiciary and ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to strengthen the strategic alliance between the ,united ,states and ,israel1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states-,israel ,strategic ,partnership ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the turmoil in the ,middle ,east poses a serious threat to ,united ,states national security interests and requires cooperation with allies that are willing to work with the ,united ,states in pursuit of shared objectives4 7#b7 ,the ,october #ca1 #aiih1 ,memorandum of ,agreement signed by ,president ,clinton and ,prime ,minister ,netanyahu commits the ,united ,states to working jointly with ,israel towards enhancing ,israel's defensive and deterrent capabilities and upgrading the framework of the ,united ,states-,israel strategic and military relationships1 as well as the technological cooperation between both countries4 7#c7 ,on ,august #af1 #bjjg1 the ,united ,states and ,israel signed a ,memorandum of ,understanding reaffirming ,united ,states commitment to the security of ,israel and establishing a #aj-year framework for incremental increases in ,united ,states military assistance to ,israel4 7#d7 ,the ,memorandum of ,understanding signed two years later on ,january #af1 #bjji reaffirmed the ,united ,states commitment and noted the security1 military and intelligence cooperation between the ,united ,states and ,israel4 7#e7 ,the ,united ,states and ,israel conduct a semi-annual ,strategic ,dialogue4 ,the ,department of ,state1 in a statement following the ,july #ab1 #bjab1 meeting of the ,strategic ,dialogue1 noted that the discussions focused on such issues of mutual concern as ,iran's continued quest to develop nuclear weapons1 which the ,united ,states and ,israel are both determined to prevent and how the continued violence of the ,syrian regime against its citizens assisted by ,iran and ,hezbollah could also lead to severe consequences for the entire region4 #c4 ,declaration of policy ,congress declares that ,israel is a major strategic partner of the ,united ,states4 #d4 ,amendments to the ,united ,states-,israel ,enhanced ,security ,cooperation ,act of #bjab 7a7 ,united ,states actions ,to assist in the defense of ,israel and protect ,united ,states interests ,section #d of the ,united ,states-,israel ,enhanced ,security ,cooperation ,act of #bjab 7,public ,law #aab-aej2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4 #hfjc7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states ,government should and inserting 7a7 ,in general4--,the ,president should1 to the maximum extent practicable12 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 the ,president shall submit to ,congress a report on the implementation of this section4 4 7b7 ,extension of ,war ,reserves ,stockpile authority ,section #e7;a7 of the ,united ,states-,israel ,enhanced ,security ,cooperation ,act of #bjab 7,public ,law #aab-aej7 is amended to read as follows3 7a7 ,extension of ,war ,reserves ,stockpile authority 7#a7 ,department of ,defense ,appropriations ,act1 #bjje ,section #abjja7;d7 of the ,department of ,defense ,appropriations ,act1 #bjje 7,public ,law #ajh-bhg2 #aah ,stat4 #ajaa71 is amended by striking more than #aj years after and inserting more than #aa years after4 7#b7 ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa ,section #ead7;b77#b77;,a7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcba;h7b77#b77;,a77 is amended by striking and #bjad and inserting 1 #bjad1 and #bjae4 4 #e4 ,authorization of assistance for ,israel 7a7 ,finding ,congress finds that ,israel has adopted high standards in the field of export controls1 including by becoming adherent to the ,australia ,group1 the ,missile ,technology ,control ,regime1 the ,nuclear ,suppliers ,group1 and the ,wassenaar ,arrangement1 and by enacting robust legislation and regulations for the control of dual-use and defense items4 7b7 ,expedited licensing procedures ,the ,president should include ,israel on the list of destinations described in paragraph 7c77#a7 of section #gdj4bj of title #ae1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7relating to ,license ,exception ,strategic ,trade ,authorization74 7c7 ,overseas ,private ,investment ,corporation ,in carrying out its authorities under title ,,iv of chapter #b of part ,i of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baia et seq471 the ,overseas ,private ,investment ,corporation should consider giving preference to providing insurance1 financing1 or reinsurance for energy and water projects in ,israel4 7d7 ,energy1 water1 homeland security1 agriculture1 and alternative fuel technologies 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,president is authorized to carry out ,united ,states-,israel cooperative activities and to provide assistance promoting cooperation in the fields of energy1 water1 homeland security1 agriculture1 and alternative fuel technologies4 7#b7 ,requirements ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,president is authorized to share and exchange with ,israel research1 technology1 intelligence1 information1 equipment1 and personnel that the ,president determines will advance the national security interests of the ,united ,states and is consistent with the ,strategic ,dialogue and pertinent provisions of law-- 7,a7 by enhancing scientific cooperation between ,israel and the ,united ,states2 or 7,b7 by the sale1 lease1 exchange in kind1 or other techniques the ,president determines to be suitable4 #f4 ,extension of existing authorization of ,united ,states-,israel energy cooperation ,section #iag7;c7 of the ,energy ,independence and ,security ,act of #bjjg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agccg7;c77 is amended by striking #g years and inserting #ag years4 #g4 ,united ,states-,israel cooperation on cyber-security ,it is a sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states and ,israel should take steps and explore avenues to increase cooperation on cyber-security4 #h4 ,statement of ,united ,states ,policy ,regarding ,israel's defense systems 7a7 ,findings ,congress-- 7#a7 commends the first phase completion of the ,david's ,sling ,weapon ,system 7,,dsws7 by the ,israel ,missile ,defense ,organization and the ,u4,s4 ,missile ,defense ,agency1 which is designed to provide additional opportunities for interception by the joint ,united ,states-,israel ,arrow ,weapon ,system 7,arrow #b and ,arrow #c72 7#b7 congratulates the ,israel ,missile ,defense ,organization and the ,u4,s4 ,missile ,defense ,agency on successfully executing the ,arrow #c flyout of a more advanced interceptor1 which will improve ,israel's defenses against upper tier ballistic missile threats from nations including ,iran2 7#c7 recognizes that during ,operation ,pillar of ,defense in ,november #bjab1 ,israel deployed ,iron ,dome short-range rocket defense batteries to intercept ,hamas-launched rockets fired from ,gaza--of those rockets that posed a threat to the life of ,israeli citizens1 #hj to #he percent were successfully intercepted1 saving countless lives2 and 7#d7 agrees that1 as stated by former ,secretary of ,defense ,leon ,panetta1 ,iron ,dome performed1 ,i think it's fair to say1 remarkably well during the recent escalation ''' ,iron ,dome does not start wars4 ,it helps prevent wars44 7b7 ,statement of policy ,the ,president1 acting through the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,secretary of ,state1 should provide assistance1 upon request by the ,government of ,israel1 for the enhancement of the ,david's ,sling ,weapon ,system1 the enhancement of the joint ,united ,states-,israel ,arrow ,weapon ,system 7,arrow #b and ,arrow #c71 and the procurement and enhancement of the ,iron ,dome short-range rocket defense system for purposes of intercepting short-range rockets1 missiles1 and other projectiles launched against ,israel4 #i4 ,report on eligibility of ,israel for visa waiver program 7a7 ,statement of policy ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states to include ,israel in the list of countries that participate in the visa waiver program under section #bag of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahg7 when ,israel satisfies the requirements for inclusion in such program specified in such section4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate a report on the extent to which ,israel satisfies the requirements specified in section #bag of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act for inclusion in the visa waiver program under such section and what additional steps1 if any1 are required in order for ,israel to qualify for inclusion in such program4