[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2701 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2701
To authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome anti-rocket
defense system and authorization for cooperation on the David's Sling,
Arrow, and Arrow 3 anti-missile defense systems.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 16, 2013
Mr. Roskam (for himself and Mr. Deutch) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome anti-rocket
defense system and authorization for cooperation on the David's Sling,
Arrow, and Arrow 3 anti-missile defense systems.
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-Israel Missile Defense
Cooperation Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The State of Israel remains under grave threat and
frequent attack from missiles, rockets, and mortar shells fired
at Israeli civilian targets by militants from Foreign Terrorist
Organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on
its southern border and by Hezbollah on its northern border,
which have killed, wounded, or inflicted psychological trauma
on countless Israelis. Additionally, Israel faces a potential
ballistic missile threat from Iran and Syria.
(2) The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation
Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) established the policy of
the United States to support the inherent right of Israel to
self-defense.
(3) The United States remains committed to Israel's
qualitative military edge, including its advantage over non-
state actors such as Hezbollah and Hamas, which boast
increasingly sophisticated and powerful weapons as a result of
support from Iran, Syria, and other state actors.
(4) The United States can help to advance its own vital
national security interests and the cause of Middle Eastern
peace and stability by supporting Israel's ability to defend
itself against missiles, rockets, and other threats.
(5) United States-Israel missile defense cooperation dates
back over two decades with great success, such as the Arrow
Weapon System, which is already protecting Israel. These
systems are life-saving, war-preventing and the technologies of
the cooperative programs belong to both the United States and
Israel.
(6) United States industries are equal partners in the
development of the cooperative systems, which creates
employment opportunities in the United States and Israel. All
technical milestones to date have been met on time.
(7) The David's Sling Weapon System (DSWS), in joint
development by the United States and Israel, is being designed
to intercept short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles,
long-range rockets, and cruise missiles.
(8) The David's Sling Weapon System successfully
intercepted an inert medium-range rocket in November 2012, and
defense officials expect the program to be fully operational as
planned on time.
(9) The Arrow 3 Weapon System, in joint development by the
United States and Israel, is being designed to intercept long-
range missiles in high altitude in order to minimize leakage
from a nuclear or chemical warhead.
(10) The Arrow 3 Weapon System completed a successful fly-
out test in February 2013.
(11) The Arrow Weapon System, in joint development between
the United States and Israel, has been operational since 2000
and targets medium-range ballistic missiles.
(12) The Israeli Defense Forces report that the Iron Dome
anti-rocket defense system has achieved a success rate of more
than 85 percent, intercepting rockets bound for residential
neighborhoods, busy road junctions, shopping centers, and
crowded streets across Israel.
(13) The success of the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense
system during Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012
averted massive Israeli casualties, thereby decreasing Israel's
need to conduct a ground-based attack against Gaza-based
terrorists, enhancing Israel's operational flexibility, and
preventing terrorists from plunging the region into crisis
whenever they choose.
(14) Israel has indicated that it is ready to share the
technology of the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system with the
United States, which would strengthen United States defense
capabilities.
(15) The Government of Israel currently has five
operational Iron Dome batteries deployed in the field, which
are far from sufficient to protect all of Israel's territory.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL FOR THE IRON DOME ANTI-
ROCKET DEFENSE SYSTEM AND AUTHORIZATION FOR COOPERATION
ON THE DAVID'S SLING, ARROW, AND ARROW 3 ANTI-MISSILE
DEFENSE SYSTEMS.
The President, acting through the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of State, is authorized to provide assistance, upon request
of the Government of Israel, for the procurement of the Iron Dome anti-
rocket defense system, as well as authorization for cooperation on the
development, maintenance, enhancement, and sustainment of the David's
Sling, Arrow, and Arrow 3 anti-missile defense systems, for the
purposes of intercepting short-range, medium-range, and long-range
rockets, missiles, and projectiles launched against Israel.
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