[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4335 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4335
To provide authority to enhance security assistance with countries that
are engaged in regional security cooperation efforts in the Middle East
and North Africa, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2025
Mr. Lawler (for himself, Mr. Moskowitz, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Davis of North
Carolina, Mr. Steil, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Kustoff, Mr.
McCaul, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Bacon, Mrs.
Luna, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Baumgartner, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Nunn
of Iowa, Mr. Rose, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Crank, Mr. Hamadeh
of Arizona, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Finstad, and Mr. Messmer)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide authority to enhance security assistance with countries that
are engaged in regional security cooperation efforts in the Middle East
and North Africa, 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 ``Abraham Accords Defense Against
Terror Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO ENHANCE SECURITY ASSISTANCE WITH COUNTRIES THAT
ARE ENGAGED IN REGIONAL SECURITY COOPERATION EFFORTS IN
THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to
work with allies and partners to safeguard freedom of navigation,
protect critical infrastructure, uphold basic principles of
international law, and protect United States citizens from threats
posed by Iran and Iran-aligned entities in the Middle East and North
Africa.
(b) Authority.--The Secretary of State shall--
(1) identify countries that--
(A) have normalized diplomatic relations with the
State of Israel; and
(B) are engaged in regional security cooperation
efforts in the Middle East and North Africa to combat
threats posed by Iran and Iran-aligned entities; and
(2) in order to meet the policy described in subsection
(a), provide approval for the sale or lease, a license or other
approval for the export, or the transfer of defense articles or
defense services to countries identified by the Secretary under
paragraph (1) in accordance with the expedited approval
provisions of subsection (c).
(c) Expedited Approval Provisions.--In the case of a sale or lease
of defense articles or defense services under section 3, 21, or 36 of
the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2753, 2761, or 2776) to a
country identified by the Secretary of State under subsection (b)(1), a
license or other approval under section 38 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2778)
for the export of defense articles or defense services to such a
country (or of a commercial agreement that involves the manufacture in
such a country of any item of significant combat equipment on the
United States Munitions List in accordance with section 36(d) of such
Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(d))), or a transfer of excess defense articles
under section 516(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2321j(c)(2)) to such a country, the President shall--
(1) notwithstanding the time limitations described in any
of such sections, submit to Congress a certification described
in such sections, at least 15 calendar days before sale, lease,
license or other approval, or transfer of the defense articles
or defense services is approved; and
(2) include in the certification--
(A) information on why the provision of such
defense articles or services is related to or in
furtherance of the policy described in subsection (a);
and
(B) a summary of steps taken by the United States
Government to ensure that any sensitive United States
technology, information, or capabilities that may be
provided to such a country by reason of the provision
of such defense articles or services are not acquired
by--
(i) the People's Republic of China or any
entity owned or controlled by the People's
Republic of China; or
(ii) the Russian Federation or any entity
owned or controlled by the Russian Federation.
(d) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 60 days thereafter, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees, in writing, a strategy on the
implementation of this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The strategy required by this
subsection shall include the following:
(A) An overview of the security threats from Iran
and Iran-aligned entities to both the United States and
the countries identified by the Secretary of State
under subsection (b)(1).
(B) A description and assessment of the metrics and
evaluation procedures used for implementing the policy
described in subsection (a), including recommendations
to improve multilateral cooperation between the United
States and such countries and among such countries.
(C) A description of the challenges to achieving
full interoperability between the United States and
such countries and the impact on progress to address
the policy described in subsection (a), including
efforts to address shared threats posed by Iran and
Iran-aligned entities.
(D) A description of measures to provide such
countries interim capabilities until the cases
described in clauses (i) and (ii) are delivered.
(E) A description and assessment of--
(i) the status of all pending sales of
defense articles or defense services over
$25,000,000, including Letters of Request and
where applicable Letters of Offer and
Acceptance, beginning 5 years prior to the date
of the enactment of this Act, to such countries
pursuant to the provisions of law specified in
subsection (c);
(ii) a description of the delivery time-
frames for all pending sales of defense
articles or defense services over $25,000,000
to such countries pursuant to the provisions of
law specified in subsection (c) and any
measures that could be taken to expedite their
delivery; and
(iii) recommendations to improve the
process for authorizing the transfer of defense
articles and services authorized under sections
36 and 38 of the Arms Export Control Act to
such countries, including as it relates to
delivery timeline.
(3) Form.--The report required by this subsection shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
(4) Definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means--
(i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives; and
(ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate; and
(B) the term ``Iran-aligned entity''--
(i) includes an entity that--
(I) is controlled or significantly
influenced by the Government of Iran;
and
(II) knowingly receives material or
financial support from the Government
of Iran; and
(ii) includes--
(I) Hezbollah;
(II) the Houthis; or
(III) any other proxy group that
furthers Iran's national security
objectives.
SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as adversely affecting
Israel's qualitative military edge, as defined in section 36(h)(3) of
the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776).
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