[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9256 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9256
To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020,
to make improvements relating to cooperation between the United States
and Israel to counter unmanned aerial systems, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 31, 2022
Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Mr. Garbarino) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in
addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020,
to make improvements relating to cooperation between the United States
and Israel to counter unmanned aerial systems, and for other purposes.
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 ``U.S.-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act of
2022''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION TO
COUNTER UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The growing arsenal of unmanned aerial systems of Iran
includes--
(A) unmanned aerial systems that engage in
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance;
(B) unmanned combat aerial systems capable of
striking battlefield targets; and
(C) loitering munitions, also known as ``suicide
drones'' or ``kamikaze drones''.
(2) Iran-origin unmanned aerial systems represent a threat
to the Armed Forces and facilities of the United States in the
Middle East, as well as to United States allies and partners
such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
(3) In February 2018, Iran allegedly launched an armed
unmanned aerial system from Syria into Israeli airspace which
was ultimately destroyed by Israeli warplanes.
(4) In September 2019, Iran launched cruise missiles and
loitering munitions at key oil installations in Saudi Arabia.
(5) Throughout the takeover of Yemen by the Houthi,
beginning in 2014 and continuing into the present, the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds-Force has provided the Yemeni
rebels with unmanned aerial systems, enabling the Houthis to
routinely strike civilian targets in both Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates.
(6) In March 2021, Iran attempted to send two triangular-
shaped unmanned aerial systems towards Israel which were
ultimately downed by Israeli warplanes over the territory of an
undisclosed Arab country.
(7) On March 27 and 28, 2022, Secretary of State Blinken
met in Israel with counterparts from the governments of Israel,
Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco to
promote normalization in the region and declared, ``Our
commitment to the core principle that Iran can never acquire a
nuclear weapon is unwavering. One way or another, we will
continue to cooperate closely.''.
(8) On June 2, 2022, Iran-backed Hezbollah sent three
unmanned aerial systems towards the Israeli-controlled Karish
gas field, one of which was intercepted by an F-16 fighter jet,
and two of which were intercepted by Barak 8 missiles launched
from the Sa'ar 5-class corvette ``INS Eilat''.
(9) On 14 July 2022, the United States and Israel adopted
the Joint Declaration on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership,
reaffirming the unbreakable bonds between the two countries and
the enduring commitment of the United States to the security of
Israel.
(10) On July 14, 2022, the House of Representatives passed
H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2023, sections 1333 and 1334 of which included language
to--
(A) extend the authority to carry out activities
and provide support relating to United States-Israel
cooperation to counter unmanned aerial systems under
section 1278 of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 133 Stat.
1702; 22 U.S.C. 8606 note);
(B) include directed energy capabilities as a type
of capability for countering unmanned aerial systems
under such section; and
(C) increase the annual limitation on the amount of
support provided under subsection (b) of such section
from $25,000,000, to $40,000,000.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States should--
(1) enhance ongoing cooperation with Israel in developing
mutually beneficial counter unmanned aerial systems
technologies and capabilities;
(2) share with Israel information about the evolving threat
of Iran-origin unmanned aerial systems; and
(3) use the United States Israel Operations-Technology
Working Group authorized under section 1299M(c) of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-
283; 134 Stat. 4014) as the epicenter of such efforts.
(c) United States-Israel Cooperation To Counter Unmanned Aerial
Systems.--Section 1278(a)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 133 Stat. 1702; 22 U.S.C. 8606
note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(C) The status of cooperation between the United
States and Israel on countering unmanned aerial
systems, to include an assessment of--
``(i) the development of equipment and
procedures to counter unmanned aerial systems;
``(ii) the capability of Israel to detect,
counter, and deter unmanned aerial systems;
``(iii) the cooperation between the United
States and Israel to detect, counter, and deter
unmanned aerial systems;
``(iv) in particular, such cooperation with
respect to the detection, countering, and
deterrence of loitering munitions; and
``(v) the extent to which the United
States-Israel Operations-Technology Working
Group is being used to carry out the activities
described in paragraph (1).
``(D) An assessment of the threat to the United
States and Israel posed by unmanned aerial systems from
Iran and associated proxies of Iran, including an
assessment of currently deployed or otherwise available
anti-drone capabilities of the United States and Israel
and the adequacy of such capabilities to offset such
threat.''.
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