July 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 124 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ENHANCEMENT AND REGIONAL SECURITY ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 124
(House of Representatives - July 23, 2019)
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[Pages H7188-H7198] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] {time} 1615 UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ENHANCEMENT AND REGIONAL SECURITY ACT Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1837) to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize assistance for Israel, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1837 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. TITLE I--ENHANCED COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL Sec. 101. Coordinator of United States-Israel Research and Development. Sec. 102. Cooperation on directed energy capabilities. Sec. 103. Cooperation on cybersecurity. Sec. 104. Report on potential benefits and impact to the United States of establishing a joint United States-Israel Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. Sec. 105. Cyber diplomacy officer. Sec. 106. United States Agency for International Development Memorandum-Israel enhanced cooperation. Sec. 107. Cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and developing countries. Sec. 108. Joint cooperative program related to innovation and high-tech for the Middle East region. Sec. 109. Sense of Congress on Eastern Mediterranean energy cooperation. Sec. 110. Cooperation on other matters. TITLE II--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL Sec. 201. Findings. Sec. 202. Statement of policy. Sec. 203. Contingency plans to provide Israel with necessary defense articles and services. Sec. 204. Waiver for existing or imminent military threat to Israel. Sec. 205. Security assistance for Israel. Sec. 206. Joint assessment of quantity of precision guided munitions for use by Israel. Sec. 207. Transfer of precision guided munitions to Israel. Sec. 208. Sense of Congress on rapid acquisition and deployment procedures. [[Page H7189]] Sec. 209. Extension of War Reserves Stockpile authority. Sec. 210. Eligibility of Israel for the strategic trade authorization exception to certain export control licensing requirements. Sec. 211. Extension of loan guarantees to Israel. Sec. 212. Definition. TITLE III--JUSTICE FOR UNITED STATES VICTIMS OF PALESTINIAN TERRORISM Sec. 301. Short title. Sec. 302. Facilitation of the settlement of terrorism-related claims of nationals of the United States. Sec. 303. Modification to consent of certain parties to personal jurisdiction. TITLE IV--BUDGETARY EFFECTS Sec. 401. Determination of budgetary effects. TITLE I--ENHANCED COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL SEC. 101. COORDINATOR OF UNITED STATES-ISRAEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. (a) In General.--The President is encouraged to designate the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs to act as Coordinator of United States-Israel Research and Development (in this section referred to as the ``Coordinator''). (b) Authorities and Duties.--The Coordinator, in conjunction with the heads of relevant Federal Government departments and agencies and in coordination with the Israel Innovation Authority, shall oversee civilian science and technology programs on a joint basis with Israel. (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Coordinator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this section. (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. SEC. 102. COOPERATION ON DIRECTED ENERGY CAPABILITIES. (a) Authority.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, upon request of the Ministry of Defense of Israel and with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is authorized to carry out research, development, test, and evaluation activities, on a joint basis with Israel, to establish directed energy capabilities that address threats to the United States, deployed forces of the United States, or Israel. Any activities carried out pursuant to such authority shall be conducted in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive information and the national security interests of the United States and the national security interests of Israel. (2) Report.--The activities described in paragraph (1) may be carried out after the Secretary of Defense submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth the following: (A) A memorandum of agreement between the United States and Israel regarding sharing of research and development costs for the capabilities described in paragraph (1), and any supporting documents. (B) A certification that the memorandum of agreement-- (i) requires sharing of costs of projects, including in- kind support, between the United States and Israel; (ii) establishes a framework to negotiate the rights to any intellectual property developed under the memorandum of agreement; and (iii) requires the United States Government to receive semiannual reports on expenditure of funds, if any, by the Government of Israel, including a description of what the funds have been used for, when funds were expended, and an identification of entities that expended the funds. (b) Support in Connection With Activities.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense is authorized to provide maintenance and sustainment support to Israel for the directed energy capabilities research, development, test, and evaluation activities authorized in subsection (a)(1). Such authority includes authority to install equipment necessary to carry out such research, development, test, and evaluation. (2) Report.--The support described in paragraph (1) may not be provided until 15 days after the Secretary of Defense submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth a detailed description of the support to be provided. (3) Matching contribution.--The support described in paragraph (1) may not be provided unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Israel will contribute to such support-- (A) an amount equal to not less than the amount of support to be so provided; or (B) an amount that otherwise meets the best efforts of Israel, as mutually agreed to by the United States and Israel. (c) Lead Agency.--The Secretary of Defense shall designate an appropriate research and development entity of a military department as the lead agency of the Department of Defense in carrying out this section. (d) Semiannual Report.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees on a semiannual basis a report that contains a copy of the most recent semiannual report provided by the Government of Israel to the Department of Defense pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii). (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. SEC. 103. COOPERATION ON CYBERSECURITY. (a) Grant Program.-- (1) Establishment.--The Secretary, in accordance with the agreement entitled the ``Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel on Cooperation in Science and Technology for Homeland Security Matters'', dated May 29, 2008 (or successor agreement), and the requirements specified in paragraph (2), shall establish a grant program at the Department to support-- (A) cybersecurity research and development; and (B) demonstration and commercialization of cybersecurity technology. (2) Requirements.-- (A) Applicability.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in carrying out a research, development, demonstration, or commercial application program or activity that is authorized under this section, the Secretary shall require cost sharing in accordance with this paragraph. (B) Research and development.-- (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), the Secretary shall require not less than 50 percent of the cost of a research, development, demonstration, or commercial application program or activity described in subparagraph (A) to be provided by a non-Federal source. (ii) Reduction.--The Secretary may reduce or eliminate, on a case-by-case basis, the percentage requirement specified in clause (i) if the Secretary determines that such reduction or elimination is necessary and appropriate. (C) Merit review.--In carrying out a research, development, demonstration, or commercial application program or activity that is authorized under this section, awards shall be made only after an impartial review of the scientific and technical merit of the proposals for such awards has been carried out by or for the Department. (D) Review processes.--In carrying out a review under subparagraph (C), the Secretary may use merit review processes developed under section 302(14) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 182(14)). (3) Eligible applicants.--An applicant shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the project of such applicant-- (A) addresses a requirement in the area of cybersecurity research or cybersecurity technology, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) is a joint venture between-- (i)(I) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), or nonprofit entity in the United States; and (II) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, or nonprofit entity in Israel; or (ii)(I) the Federal Government; and (II) the Government of Israel. (4) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an applicant shall submit to the Secretary an application for such grant in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary, in consultation with the advisory board established under paragraph (5). (5) Advisory board.-- (A) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory board to-- (i) monitor the method by which grants are awarded under this subsection; and (ii) provide to the Secretary periodic performance reviews of actions taken to carry out this subsection. (B) Composition.--The advisory board established under subparagraph (A) shall be composed of three members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of whom-- (i) one shall be a representative of the Federal Government; (ii) one shall be selected from a list of nominees provided by the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; and (iii) one shall be selected from a list of nominees provided by the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation. (6) Contributed funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may accept or retain funds contributed by any person, government entity, or organization for purposes of carrying out this subsection. Such funds shall be available, subject to appropriation, without fiscal year limitation. (7) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of completion of a project for which a grant is provided under this subsection, the [[Page H7190]] grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report that contains-- (A) a description of how the grant funds were used by the recipient; and (B) an evaluation of the level of success of each project funded by the grant. (8) Classification.--Grants shall be awarded under this subsection only for projects that are considered to be unclassified by both the United States and Israel. (b) Termination.--The grant program and the advisory board established under this section terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this section. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized. (d) Definitions.--In this section-- (1) the term ``cybersecurity research'' means research, including social science research, into ways to identify, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats; (2) the term ``cybersecurity technology'' means technology intended to identify, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats; (3) the term ``cybersecurity threat'' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (enacted as title I of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 (division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113))); (4) the term ``Department'' means the Department of Homeland Security; and (5) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland Security. SEC. 104. REPORT ON POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND IMPACT TO THE UNITED STATES OF ESTABLISHING A JOINT UNITED STATES-ISRAEL CYBERSECURITY CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report examining the potential benefits and impact to the United States of establishing a joint United States-Israel Cybersecurity Center of Excellence based in the United States and Israel to leverage the experience, knowledge, and expertise of institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), private sector entities, and government entities in the area of cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in subsection (e) of section 1016 of the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c; enacted in title X of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 20 107-56))). (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. SEC. 105. CYBER DIPLOMACY OFFICER. The Secretary of State is encouraged to appoint a qualified individual to assume the role of cyber diplomacy officer at the United States Embassy in Israel. SEC. 106. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM-ISRAEL ENHANCED COOPERATION. (a) Statement of Policy.--It should be the policy of the United States Agency for International Development to cooperate with Israel in order to advance common goals across a wide variety of sectors, including energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, human rights and governance, economic growth and trade, education, environment, global health and water and sanitation. (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary of State, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, is authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel in order to advance common goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, human rights and governance, economic growth and trade, education, environment, global health and water sanitation with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and cooperation with nations throughout the world. SEC. 107. COOPERATIVE PROJECTS AMONG THE UNITED STATES, ISRAEL, AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. Section 106(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151d) is amended to read as follows: ``(f) There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to finance cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and developing countries that identify and support local solutions to address sustainability challenges relating to water resources, agriculture, and energy storage, including for the following activities: ``(1) Establishing public-private partnerships. ``(2) Supporting the identification, research, development testing, and scaling of innovations that focus on populations that are vulnerable to environmental and resource-scarcity crises, such as subsistence farming communities. ``(3) Seed or transition-to-scale funding, publicity and marketing promotional support, or mentorship and partnership brokering support. ``(4) Acceleration of demonstrations or applications of local solutions to sustainability challenges, or the further refinement, testing, or implementation of innovations that have previously effectively addressed sustainability challenges.''. SEC. 108. JOINT COOPERATIVE PROGRAM RELATED TO INNOVATION AND HIGH-TECH FOR THE MIDDLE EAST REGION. (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the United States should help foster cooperation in the Middle East region by financing and, where appropriate, cooperating in projects related to innovation and high-tech; and (2) such projects should-- (A) contribute to development and the quality of life in the Middle East region through the application of research and technology; and (B) contribute to Arab-Israeli cooperation by establishing strong working relationships that last beyond the life of such projects. (b) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, is authorized to seek to establish a program between the United States, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip to provide for cooperation in the Middle East region by financing and, where appropriate, cooperating in, projects related to innovation and high-tech. (c) Project Requirements.--Each project carried out under the program established by subsection (b)-- (1) shall include participation from at least one entity of Israel and one entity of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip; and (2) should include participation from a total of three or more such entities to the maximum extent practicable. SEC. 109. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ENERGY COOPERATION. It is the sense of Congress that cooperation between the United States and Israel for the purpose of research and development of energy sources would be in the national interests of not only the United States and Israel, but also of the other nations in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa with similar natural gas finds. SEC. 110. COOPERATION ON OTHER MATTERS. (a) United States-Israel Energy Center.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022 to carry out the activities of the United States-Israel Energy Center established pursuant to section 917(d) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(d)). (b) United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation.--It is the sense of Congress that grants to promote covered energy projects conducted by or in conjunction with the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation should continue to be funded at not less than $2,000,000 annually under section 917(b) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)). (c) United States-Israel Cooperation on Energy, Water, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Alternative Fuel Technologies.--Section 7 of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8606) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022.''. (d) Annual Policy Dialogue.--It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Transportation and Israel's Ministry of Transportation should engage in an annual policy dialogue to implement the 2016 Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the Secretary of Transportation and the Israeli Minister of Transportation. (e) Cooperation on Space Exploration and Science Initiatives.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall continue to work with the Israel Space Agency to identify and cooperatively pursue peaceful space exploration and science initiatives in areas of mutual interest, taking all appropriate measures to protect sensitive information, intellectual property, trade secrets, and economic interests of the United States. (f) United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund.-- (1) In general.--Section 1458(e)(2) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(e)(2)) is amended-- (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end; (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(C) include food and nutrition research and development and the commercialization of the best practices identified through such research and development.''. (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subparagraph (C) of section 1458(e)(2) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act [[Page H7191]] of 1977, as added by paragraph (1)(C), $7,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022. (3) Report.-- (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on activities of the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund under section 1458(e) of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(e)). (B) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this paragraph, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; and (ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. (g) Research and Development Cooperation Relating to Desalination Technology.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on research and development cooperation with international partners, such as the State of Israel, in the area of desalination technology as required under section 9(b)(3) of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 10301 note). (2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. (h) Research and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should seek to explore collaboration between the Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers and Centers of Excellence and Israeli institutions with expertise in researching and treating posttraumatic stress disorder. (i) Development of Health Technologies.-- (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022 to establish a bilateral cooperative program with Israel for the development of health technologies, including health technologies described in paragraph (2), with an emphasis on collaboratively advancing the use of technology, personalized medicine, and data in relation to aging. (2) Types of health technologies.--The health technologies described in this paragraph may include technologies such as artificial intelligence, biofeedback, sensors, monitoring devices, and kidney care. (j) Office of International Programs of the Food and Drug Administration.-- (1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration should seek to explore collaboration with Israel through the Office of International Programs. (2) Report.-- (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner, acting through the head of the Office of International Programs, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the benefits to the United States and to Israel of opening an office in Israel for the Office of International Programs. (B) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this paragraph, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and (ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. (k) Sense of Congress on United States-Israel Economic Cooperation.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the United States-Israel economic partnership has achieved great tangible and intangible benefits to both countries and is a foundational component of the strong alliance; (2) science and technology innovations present promising new frontiers for United States-Israel economic cooperation, particularly in light of widespread drought, cybersecurity attacks, and other major challenges impacting the United States; and (3) the President should regularize and expand existing forums of economic dialogue with Israel and foster both public and private sector participation. TITLE II--SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL SEC. 201. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) On September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming the importance of continuing annual United States military assistance to Israel and cooperative missile defense programs in a way that enhances Israel's security and strengthens the bilateral relationship between the two countries. (2) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflected United States support of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to Israel over the 10-year period beginning in fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028. Such FMF grant assistance would equal $3.3 billion annually, totaling $33 billion. (3) The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding also reflected United States support for funding for cooperative programs to develop, produce, and procure missile, rocket and projectile defense capabilities over a 10-year period beginning in fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028 at a level of $500 million annually, totaling $5 billion. SEC. 202. STATEMENT OF POLICY. It is the policy of the United States to provide assistance to the Government of Israel in order to help enable Israel to defend itself by itself and develop long-term capacity, primarily through the acquisition of advanced capabilities that are available from the United States. SEC. 203. CONTINGENCY PLANS TO PROVIDE ISRAEL WITH NECESSARY DEFENSE ARTICLES AND SERVICES. (a) In General.--The President, acting through the Secretary of Defense and in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish and update as appropriate contingency plans to provide Israel with defense articles and services that are determined by the Secretary of Defense to be necessary for the defense of Israel. (b) Congressional Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the status of the contingency plans required under subsection (a). SEC. 204. WAIVER FOR EXISTING OR IMMINENT MILITARY THREAT TO ISRAEL. Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(l) Waiver for Existing or Imminent Military Threat to Israel.-- ``(1) In general.--Upon receiving information that Israel is under an existing or imminent threat of military attack, the President may waive the requirements of this Act and direct the immediate transfer to Israel of such defense articles or services the President determines to be necessary to assist Israel in its defense against such threat. Amounts obligated or expended to carry out this paragraph shall not be subject to any limitation in law, or provision of any bilateral agreement, relating to the amount of United States assistance authorized to be made available to Israel. ``(2) Notification required.--As soon as practicable after a transfer of defense articles or services pursuant to the authority provided by paragraph (1), the President shall provide a notification in writing to Congress of the details of such transfer, consistent with the requirements of section 36 of this Act.''. SEC. 205. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL. Section 513(c) of the Security Assistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-280; 114 Stat. 856) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2002 and 2003'' and inserting ``2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024''; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``equal to--'' and all that follows and inserting ``not less than $3,300,000,000.''; and (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Funds authorized'' and all that follows through ``later.'' and inserting ``Funds authorized to be available for Israel under subsection (b)(1) and paragraph (1) of this subsection for fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 shall be disbursed not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of an Act making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the respective fiscal year, or October 31 of the respective fiscal year, whichever is later.''. SEC. 206. JOINT ASSESSMENT OF QUANTITY OF PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS FOR USE BY ISRAEL. (a) In General.--The President, acting through the Secretary of Defense and in consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to conduct a joint assessment with the Government of Israel with respect to the matters described in subsection (b). (b) Matters Described.--The matters described in this subsection are the following: (1) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions that are necessary for Israel to combat Hezbollah in the event of a sustained armed confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. (2) The quantity and type of precision guided munitions that are necessary for Israel in the event of a sustained armed confrontation with other armed groups and terrorist organizations such as Hamas. (3) The resources the Government of Israel can plan to dedicate to acquire such precision guided munitions. (4) United States planning to assist Israel to prepare for the sustained armed confrontations described in paragraphs (1) and (2) as well as the ability of the United States to resupply Israel in the event of such confrontations described in paragraphs (1) and (2), if any. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 15 days after the date on which the joint assessment authorized under subsection (a) is completed, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the [[Page H7192]] appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the joint assessment. (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex. SEC. 207. TRANSFER OF PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS TO ISRAEL. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h), the President is authorized to transfer to Israel precision guided munitions from reserve stocks for Israel in such quantities as necessary for legitimate self-defense of Israel and is otherwise consistent with the purposes and conditions for such transfers under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.). (b) Certification.--Except in the case of an emergency as determined by the President, not later than 5 days before making a transfer under subsection (a), the President shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees that the transfer of the precision guided munitions-- (1) does not affect the ability of the United States to maintain a sufficient supply of precision guided munitions; (2) does not harm the combat readiness of the United States or the ability of the United States to meet its commitment to allies for the transfer of such munitions; (3) is necessary for Israel to counter the threat of rockets in a timely fashion; and (4) is in the national security interest of the United States. SEC. 208. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON RAPID ACQUISITION AND DEPLOYMENT PROCEDURES. It is the sense of Congress that the President should prescribe procedures for the rapid acquisition and deployment of precision guided munitions for United States counterterrorism missions, or to assist an ally of the United States, including Israel, that is subject to direct missile threat. SEC. 209. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY. (a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005.-- Subsection (d) of section 12001 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended by striking ``after September 30, 2020'' and inserting ``after September 30, 2025''. (b) Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.--Section 514(b)(2)(A) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020'' and inserting ``2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025''. SEC. 210. ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAEL FOR THE STRATEGIC TRADE AUTHORIZATION EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN EXPORT CONTROL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) Israel has adopted high standards in the field of export controls. (2) Israel has declared its unilateral adherence to the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. (3) Israel is a party to-- (A) the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva June 17, 1925; and (B) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, adopted at Vienna on October 26, 1979. (4) Section 6(b) of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8603 note) directs the President, consistent with the commitments of the United States under international agreements, to take steps so that Israel may be included in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception under section 740.20(c)(1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, to the requirement for a license for the export, re-export, or in- country transfer of an item subject to controls under the Export Administration Regulations. (b) Report on Eligibility for Strategic Trade Authorization Exception.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that describes the steps taken to include Israel in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception under section 740.20 (c) (1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations section, as required under 6(b) of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8603 note). (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex. SEC. 211. EXTENSION OF LOAN GUARANTEES TO ISRAEL. Chapter 5 of title I of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108-11; 117 Stat. 576) is amended under the heading ``Loan Guarantees to Israel''-- (1) in the matter preceding the first proviso, by striking ``September 30, 2020'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and (2) in the second proviso, by striking ``September 30, 2020'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''. SEC. 212. DEFINITION. In this title, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. TITLE III--JUSTICE FOR UNITED STATES VICTIMS OF PALESTINIAN TERRORISM SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Justice for United States Victims of Palestinian Terrorism Act''. SEC. 302. FACILITATION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF TERRORISM-RELATED CLAIMS OF NATIONALS OF THE UNITED STATES. (a) Comprehensive Process To Facilitate the Resolution of Anti-Terrorism Act Claims.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, develop and initiate a comprehensive process for the Department of State to facilitate the resolution and settlement of covered claims. (b) Elements of Comprehensive Process.--The comprehensive process developed under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following: (1) Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Department of State shall publish a notice in the Federal Register identifying the method by which a national of the United States, or a representative of a national of the United States, who has a covered claim, may contact the Department of State to give notice of the covered claim. (2) Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, or a designee of the Secretary, shall meet (and make every effort to continue to meet on a regular basis thereafter) with any national of the United States, or a representative of a national of the United States, who has a covered claim and has informed the Department of State of the covered claim using the method established pursuant to paragraph (1) to discuss the status of the covered claim, including the status of any settlement discussions with the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization. (3) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, or a designee of the Secretary, shall make every effort to meet (and make every effort to continue to meet on a regular basis thereafter) with representatives of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to discuss the covered claims identified pursuant to paragraph (1) and potential settlement of the covered claims. (c) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of State shall, not later than 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report describing activities that the Department of State has undertaken to comply with this section, including specific updates regarding paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b). (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) covered claims should be resolved in a manner that provides just compensation to the victims; (2) covered claims should be resolved and settled in favor of the victim to the fullest extent possible and without subjecting victims to unnecessary or protracted litigation; (3) the United States Government should take all practicable steps to facilitate the resolution and settlement of all covered claims, including engaging directly with the victims or their representatives and the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization; and (4) the United States Government should strongly urge the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to commit to good-faith negotiations to resolve and settle all covered claims. (e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``covered claim'' means any pending action by, or final judgment in favor of, a national of the United States, or any action by a national of the United States dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction, under section 2333 of title 18, United States Code, against the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization. SEC. 303. MODIFICATION TO CONSENT OF CERTAIN PARTIES TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION. (a) Amendment to Title 18.--Section 2334 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (e)(1) and inserting the following: ``(A) beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, makes, renews, promotes, or advances any application in order to obtain the same standing as a member state in the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof, or accepts such standing, outside an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians; or ``(B) beginning on the date that is 15 days after the date of enactment of the Justice for United States Victims of Palestinian Terrorism Act-- ``(i) continues to maintain any office, headquarters, premises, or other facilities or establishments in the United States; or ``(ii) establishes or procures any office, headquarters, premises, or other facilities or establishments in the United States.''; and (2) And by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: ``(3) Defendant defined.--For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term `defendant' means-- [[Page H7193]] ``(A) the Palestinian Authority; ``(B) the Palestine Liberation Organization; ``(C) any organization or other entity that is a successor to or affiliated with the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization; or ``(D) any organization or other entity-- ``(i) identified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C); and ``(ii) that self-identifies as, holds itself out to be, or carries out conduct in the name of, the `State of Palestine' or `Palestine' in connection with official business of the United Nations. ``(4) Exception for certain activities and locations.--In determining whether a defendant shall be deemed to have consented to personal jurisdiction under paragraph (1)(B), a court may not consider-- ``(A) any office, headquarters, premises or other facility or establishment used exclusively for the purpose of conducting official business of the United Nations; or ``(B) any activity undertaken exclusively for the purpose of conducting official business of the United Nations. ``(5) Rule of construction.--Notwithstanding any other law (including any treaty), any office, headquarters, premises, or other facility or establishment within the territory of the United States that is not specifically exempted by paragraph (4)(A) shall be considered to be in the United States for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(B).''. (b) Prior Consent Not Abrogated.--The amendments made by this section do not abrogate any consent deemed to have been given under section 2334(e) of title 18, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. TITLE IV--BUDGETARY EFFECTS SEC. 401. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cartwright). Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York. General Leave Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1837. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York? There was no objection. Mr. ENGEL. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I want to start by thanking Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson for their extraordinary leadership in crafting this measure. This is another piece of bipartisan legislation that underscores the vitality and bipartisanship of the U.S.-Israel relationship. The centerpiece of this bill is a provision that writes into law the 10-year memorandum of understanding President Obama signed with Israel before he left office. The legislation also enhances U.S.-Israel cooperation on a wide range of issues, from helping veterans confront issues with PTSD, to advancing space cooperation, to developing new ways to get clean water. In addition, the bill advances other critical priorities. It helps ensure that the families of American victims of terrorism will get their day in court, so they can finally see some justice after their loved ones were so cruelly taken from them. And it includes a legal fix that will restore U.S. assistance to Palestinians that has been cut off in recent months. When I traveled to the West Bank in May, I saw the impacts of this funding cut firsthand. I visited a water treatment system in Jericho that is ready to go into place, already paid for by the United States but, because of legislation Congress passed last year, they can't take the tiny extra step needed to get it up and running. We also met with people seeking to enhance tolerance and understanding between Palestinians and Israelis, exactly the sort of peace-building efforts we should be supporting, unlike the BDS movement. These have all had to stop work due to the assistance cut. In addition, I met with American military officials who are deeply concerned about the suspension of security assistance to the Palestinians and the implications of that for Israel's security. So I am pleased that the legislation before us today provides a fix for this unsustainable situation. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two pieces that argue that we must restore this assistance now. [From The Hill, Jan. 28, 2019] Congress Must Move Quickly To Fix the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (By Debra Shushan) In a perversely ironic turn, a law intended to aid American victims of international terrorist attacks will strike a serious blow to counterterrorism cooperation that keeps Israelis (and Americans visiting Israel) safe. The Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (ATCA) will take effect on February 1. Unless it is adequately amended or repealed before then, the law will damage Israeli national security and U.S. foreign policy toward the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Time is short, and Congress must take action. ATCA was passed with little fanfare, by unanimous consent in the House and Senate, and apparently absent an understanding of its foreign policy implications. The law's aim is to assist American victims of international terrorism in securing, through U.S. courts, monetary damages from entities alleged to have aided and abetted terrorist attacks. It was the outcome of lawsuits against the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), like Waldman v. PLO, that drove the most consequential provision in ATCA. In Waldman, a district court awarded the plaintiff $655.5 million (triple the damages suffered), only to have a circuit court rule on appeal that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over the PLO. To address this perceived flaw, Section 4 of ATCA stipulates that a defendant consents to personal jurisdiction if it accepts the types of aid the U.S. government has given the PA: most importantly, economic support funds (ESF) and international narcotics control and law enforcement (INCLE) aid. Recognizing that future acceptance of U.S. assistance could bankrupt the Palestinian Authority through litigation, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah informed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the Palestinian Authority will decline U.S. aid when ATCA takes effect. Comparing the $665 million judgement in Waldman (equivalent to 13 percent of the Palestinian Authority's 2018 budget) to $60 million in security funding it receives from the U.S., its decision was obviously inevitable. So, ATCA will not achieve its purpose of enabling terror victims to collect money from the Palestinian Authority or PLO through litigation. Since the Palestinian Authority has foresworn U.S. aid, courts still won't have personal jurisdiction over it. Meanwhile, ATCA will harm Israeli security, given an end to INCLE funding for the Palestinian Authority and the termination of the U.S. Security Coordinator. Under U.S. supervision since 2005, the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) have transformed into a professional and effective entity that works closely with Israel to maintain law and order in Palestinian cities and foil terrorism. Israeli security chiefs are unequivocal about the importance of this security coordination. In remarks, to the Israeli cabinet earlier this month, outgoing Israeli army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot urged the government to strengthen the PASF. Belatedly, the Israeli government has weighed in with the Trump administration, asking for an ATCA fix to preserve security coordination, ``a top priority Israeli national security interest.'' ATCA will also undermine U.S. foreign policy vis-a-vis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Neither President Trump nor subsequent presidents will be able to use aid as a tool to facilitate future Palestinian-Israeli peace. Meanwhile, as the U.S. Agency for International Development prepares to lay off local staff and abandon nearly completed infrastructure projects in the West Bank, the Palestinian people will suffer. American interests are harmed, too, when worsening Palestinian quality of life fosters extremism and a hardening of attitudes toward the U.S. and Israel. Compounding its deleterious impact, ATCA may apply to foreign states, impacting allies in the Middle East (think of Egypt and Jordan) and beyond. It could also apply to humanitarian NGOs. Members of Congress are working with the Trump administration on a fix. A number of options are available. The best choice is revocation of Section 4, which triggered this crisis while failing to help terrorist attack victims. A national security waiver for the President is another possibility. It is suboptimal since President Trump slashed ESF funding to Palestinians before ATCA and appears unlikely to reinstate it, though a future president could. Exempting only INCLE funding is better than nothing, but would transmit the message to Palestinians that the U.S. cares only about Israeli security and not their welfare. (They are complementary; we must care about both.) If Congress cannot engineer a fix by January 31--a real danger, even likelihood--Congress must at minimum delay ATCA's implementation. This time bomb is ticking, and if [[Page H7194]] Congress can't defuse ATCA in time, it must at least reset the clock. ____ [From NPR, Jan. 31, 2019] Opinion: Here's Why U.S. Aid to Palestinians Needs To Continue (By Dana Stroul, Daniel B. Shapiro) Is U.S. assistance to the Palestinians an indulgence we can do without? Will its elimination leave Israelis, Palestinians and U.S. interests better off? Unless Congress and the Trump administration act quickly, we are about to find out. Since 1993, the United States has provided more than $5 billion in assistance to the West Bank and Gaza. This generous program continued across Republican and Democratic administrations, with bipartisan Congressional support, despite ups and downs in the peace process, spikes and drops in violence and frustrations in Washington and Jerusalem with Palestinian leaders. But the whole enterprise is now in jeopardy. First, the Trump Administration cut the entire fiscal year 2017 economic aid program for the West Bank and Gaza and looks likely to do the same for fiscal 2018. Now the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission, with no money to spend, is on the verge of closing down, leaving ongoing projects uncompleted. Next, the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act, which exposes the Palestinian Authority to legal action in U.S. courts if it accepts any U.S. assistance funds, comes into force on Feb. 1. The ATCA's passage last year prompted Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (who resigned Tuesday) to inform Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a late-December letter that the Palestinian Authority will no longer accept any U.S. assistance. If carried out, that will end U.S. assistance for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces, the deliberately under-the-radar and largely successful U.S. effort to develop these forces and facilitate effective security coordination with Israel in the West Bank. It will also eliminate the role of the U.S. security coordinator, a three-star general who oversees the training of the security forces and serves as a liaison between Israeli and Palestinian security officials. Thus far, there has been minimal debate in Washington over the implications of these developments on stability in the West Bank and Gaza and the inextricable link to Israel's security. Nor has there been a sober reckoning of the very real implications for U.S. influence. It's easy to be cavalier about these programs, considering the moribund peace process, Palestinian leaders who lack legitimacy with much of the U.S. public, and bouts of violence. But members of Congress, including many of Israel's strongest supporters on both sides of the aisle, have long understood their value. While oversight has been rigorous, funding for Palestinian assistance programs has always flowed with bipartisan support because it was determined to reinforce Israel's security and provide a measure of U.S. leverage and influence. This logic was ratified by the support of the Israeli government for these programs. Israeli authorities understood that a breakdown in security, an economic collapse or a humanitarian crisis in the West Bank would place an enormous burden on Israel. A crisis in the West Bank could require the Israel Defense Forces to redeploy personnel from other high- risk areas like the Lebanon border or the Golan Heights. Moreover, U.S. assistance has sustained lines of contact with Palestinian officials. During flare-ups and crises, this connective tissue has placed the U.S. in a position to defuse situations when direct Israeli-Palestinian engagement was too difficult. U.S. Security Coordinator Lt. Gen. Eric Wendt and his predecessors have at times been the only American officials able to bridge both sides in moments of high tension. The current funding crisis runs contrary to clearly expressed Congressional intent. Last year, large bipartisan majorities passed the Taylor Force Act, which, by withholding some U.S. aid, aimed to compel the Palestinian Authority to end, among other things, its practice of providing payments to families of convicted Palestinian terrorists. But Congress also voted resoundingly to maintain key elements of assistance, including humanitarian aid, people-to-people programs, medical services and other programming with no direct connection to the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli government, for its part, was clear in its support for the Taylor Force Act's intent of ending U.S. assistance that could even indirectly subsidize the Palestinian Authority's payments to terrorists' families. But there was never Israeli support for curtailing the accounts Congress protected programs acknowledged to maintain a modicum of stability in the West Bank and prevent a full- scale humanitarian crisis in either the West Bank or Gaza. In other words, the Taylor Force Act's passage underscored bipartisan Congressional support for continuing U.S. assistance to the Palestinians. Trump officials, who took an axe to the entire program, citing the Taylor Force Act, have misinterpreted the meaning of the law. The Israeli national security establishment remains painfully aware that it will face the burden--financial, security, and otherwise--of addressing a full-scale collapse in the West Bank or Gaza if the U.S. steps away or loses all influence and credibility with the Palestinians. And if they lose cooperation with the Palestinian security forces, Israeli security forces will find themselves in the far worse position of needing to directly intervene to confront security threats in Palestinian-populated areas, rather than working through the U.S.-funded multilateral construct. If all parties remain stuck on the current course, the biggest losers will be innocent Palestinian civilians and Israel. The winners are those benefiting from instability and the opportunity to point to the U.S. as unreliable and in retreat from the Middle East: Hamas, other assorted terrorists and Iran. To reverse the current course, here are some steps that the administration and Congress should urgently undertake: Fix the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act A straightforward legislative fix is low-hanging fruit. Congressional and administration staff recognize that ending U.S. security assistance to the Palestinian security forces only helps adversaries and empowers enemies. In recent days, Israel belatedly added its voice, making clear it wants U.S. aid to the PASF to continue. In fact, Congress and the administration should go further and seize the opportunity in this crisis to permanently protect U.S. security assistance to the Palestinian security forces. Mitigate damage Walking away from ongoing USAID projects in the West Bank and Gaza--unfinished roads, incomplete water projects, and piecemeal humanitarian and education programs--is a total waste of U.S. taxpayer dollars. Such visible reminders of U.S. abandonment will also inflame local sentiment against the United States. Congress should authorize and explicitly appropriate funds to complete these projects, following a thorough review of the status of U.S. programs in the West Bank and Gaza. Pass positive legislative alternatives Even if traditional assistance programs remain blocked, there are creative legislative proposals that preserve space for U.S. influence and enjoy bipartisan support. The Palestinian Partnership Fund Act, introduced in the last Congress, promotes economic development by connecting Palestinian entrepreneurs and companies with counterparts in the U.S., Israel, and the Middle East. An International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, long advocated by the nonpartisan Alliance for Middle East Peace, has enjoyed bipartisan support in past Congresses and would promote people-to-people peace-building activities by pooling funding from government and private sources. Now is the time for Congress to approve funding for it. Urge Israeli clarification on U.S. assistance Members of Congress naturally seek Israel's views on the security and economic consequences of completely shutting down U.S. assistance programs to the Palestinians. But during the Trump administration, the answers have been murky. After Israel's election in April, Congress should urgently seek a clear picture of the new government's views, as members continue to vote on this much-debated set of issues. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, this is a strong bipartisan bill that advances the U.S.-Israel relationship. I, again, want to thank Representatives Deutch and Wilson for their leadership, as well as all the other Members who contributed to this fine piece of legislation. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 18, 2019. Hon. Peter A. DeFazio, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman DeFazio: I write in reply to your letter regarding H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further agree that your Committee's inaction regarding the bill will not waive any future jurisdictional claims over matters addressed in H.R. 1837 which fall within your Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is include in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. [[Page H7195]] ____ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, July 17, 2019. Hon. Eliot Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Engel: I write concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. There are certain provisions in this legislation that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 1837, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure agrees to forgo action on the bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill would not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I also request that you urge the Speaker to name members of this Committee to any conference committee which is named to consider such provisions. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee report on H.R. 1837, and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Sincerely, Peter A. DeFazio, Chair. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space and Technology, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairwoman Johnson: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology under House Rule X and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on Science, Space and Technology conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Chairman Eliot Engel, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the ``United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act,'' which was sequentially referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (``Science Committee'') on March 21, 2019. I agree to work cooperatively on this bill and the Science Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837, in order to expedite floor consideration. This is, however, not a waiver of future jurisdictional claims by the Science Committee over this subject matter. Thank you for agreeing to include our exchange of letters in the Congressional Record. Additionally, thank you for agreeing to support the appointment of Science Committee conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation, Sincerely, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Collin C. Peterson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Peterson: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on Agriculture conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, July 22, 2019. Hon. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: Thank you for the opportunity to review the relevant provisions of H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. While the bill was primarily referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Agriculture Committee received an additional referral. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner, and accordingly, I agree to discharge H.R.1837 from further consideration by the Committee on Agriculture. I do so with the understanding that by discharging the bill, the Committee on Agriculture does not waive any future jurisdictional claim on this or similar matters. Further, the Committee on Agriculture reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees, if it should be necessary. I ask that you inset a copy of our exchange of letters into both the Congressional Record and the Committee Report during consideration of this measure on the House floor. Thank you for your courtesy in this matter. I look forward to continued cooperation between our respective committees. Sincerely. Collin C. Peterson, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Pallone: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce under Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on Energy and Commerce conferees during any House- Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Eliot Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, as amended, which was additionally referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 1837, the Committee on Energy and Commerce agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. I also request that you support my request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. Finally, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter in the report on the bill and into the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 1837. Sincerely, Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman. [[Page H7196]] ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Jerrold Nadler, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Eliot Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: This is to advise you that the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to review the provisions in H.R. 1837, the ``United States- Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 1837, with the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject matters. In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the right to request an appropriate number of conferees to address any concerns with these or similar provisions that may arise in conference. Please place this letter into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our committees. Sincerely, Jerrold Nadler, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Mark Takano, Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Takano: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on Veterans' Affairs conferees during any House- Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC, July 22, 2019. Hon. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions within H.R. 1837 that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I forego further consideration of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 1837 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Further, I request your support for the appointment of conferees from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs during any House-Senate conference convened on this or related legislation. Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R. 1837 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor to memorialize our understanding. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Mark Takano, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, July 19, 2019. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 1837 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on Homeland Security conferees during any House- Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. ____ Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, July 22, 2019. Hon. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: I write to you regarding H.R. 1837, the ``United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act.'' H.R. 1837 contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential referral of the bill. However, agreeing to waive consideration of this bill should not be construed as the Committee on Homeland Security waiving, altering, or otherwise affecting its jurisdiction over subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. Further, I request your support for the appointment of Homeland Security conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this or similar legislation. I also ask that a copy of this letter and your response be included in the legislative report on H.R. 1837 and in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass this important legislation. Sincerely, Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman. Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, of which I am a cosponsor. The United States-Israel partnership is a two-way street. We work together to further our shared values and interests. We already collaborate on a wide range of civil issues, such as energy and agriculture; and our security cooperation helps keep both of our countries safe as we counter threats from a wide range of terrorist groups, as well as from Iran. But still there is much more that we can do together. I want to thank Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson for this comprehensive, bipartisan update to the United States-Israel partnership to confront the challenges both countries face in 2019 and beyond. H.R. 1837 expands our mutually-beneficial cooperation, identifying several new or growing areas of cooperation where we can exchange innovations and help improve the lives and livelihoods of our people as well as our respective national interests. Through this bill, the United States and Israel will be better- positioned to [[Page H7197]] cooperate on critical fields like research and development, directed energy, cybersecurity, international development and foreign assistance, treating post-traumatic stress disorder, and developing health technologies. In terms of our security partnership with Israel, the bill authorizes U.S. foreign military financing to Israel at $3.3 billion per year through 2024, the same levels agreed to in the 2016 U.S.-Israel memorandum. It reauthorizes United States loan guarantees and extends War Reserves Stockpile Authority for Israel. H.R. 1837 also codifies policies to ensure that the United States can transfer precision-guided munitions and other defense articles to Israel quickly in the event of an emergency. We all know that Israel faces threats on multiple fronts, from Iran, from Hezbollah, Hamas, and others. These adversaries aren't going to call ahead in the event of an escalation. We need to be prepared with the appropriate authorities to ensure that if Israel is facing a protracted or multifront conflict, that the United States can help. Mr. Speaker, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), my good friend, and I would ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Pennsylvania? There was no objection. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding. I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong support for H.R. 1837, the U.S.-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, supported and introduced by Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson. I thank them for their leadership, as well as Eliot Engel and Michael McCaul, our ranking member. Israel is by far our closest ally in the Middle East with which we share common values, including a commitment to democracy and to the rule of law. Sadly, Israel often comes under attack, at the United Nations and in the region, both by words and by bullets. Israel is judged by a double standard by which real or imagined flaws are magnified, while Israel's virtues as a robust democracy are ignored. Mr. Speaker, we must stand with Israel, and this bill is a means to achieve that. Among other things, it would authorize--and this is the core of the bill--it would authorize military financing for Israel at $3.3 billion per year, over 10 years, and enhanced cooperation with our key ally in a host of other areas from cybersecurity, to agriculture, to assisting veterans. It is mutually beneficial, allowing us to access Israel's knowledge and to benefit from its leadership in sectors such as desalinization technology, which has helped make the desert bloom, one of the most visually-evident ways Israel has positively impacted the land. The bill encourages energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean which, presumably, includes ongoing ventures with friendly countries, such as Greece and Cyprus. In short, the bill greatly enhances the mutually-beneficial ties which exist between our two great nations. This is a good piece of legislation. It is bipartisan, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), a valuable member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, author of this important bill, and chairman of the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism Subcommittee. Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Engel for yielding the time. I rise today in support of H.R. 1837, the U.S.-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. I thank Chairman Engel for his support of this legislation, as well as Ranking Member McCaul, and I am especially grateful to my friend, Congressman Joe Wilson, for introducing this bill with me. I also thank the 289 bipartisan cosponsors of this bill. Today, we send a clear message that bipartisan support for the U.S.- Israel relationship, for the security and civilian cooperation between our countries, and for the ties between the American and Israeli people, remains strong and unwavering. Today, we vote to strengthen and enhance this relationship, while also providing victims of terrorism a rightful path to justice and restoring much-needed assistance which contributes to security and saves the lives of Israelis and Palestinians. The security provisions in this bill reinforces the ways in which the U.S. guarantees Israel's right and ability to defend herself against any and all threats, in turn, contributing to our own national security interests in the region. By codifying the 2016 10-year memorandum of understanding, we advance security and stability in a volatile region. But just as our alliance with Israel is about more than just security, this bill is about more than just security as well. Our bond with Israel is rooted in our shared values. Just like this country, Israel is a vibrant democracy where political parties from right to left vigorously debate and disagree on politics and policy. This bill enhances nonsecurity cooperation between our two nations; cooperation that has yielded impactful and tangible results around the globe in areas like energy, and water, cybersecurity, health, and agriculture. It authorizes the United States and Israel to work together on humanitarian and development programs in developing countries; and it expands the work that Israel, the Palestinians, and other Arab states can do together to promote scientific and technological advancement and contribute to lasting regional stability. And finally, this legislation provides a long-awaited path to justice for victims of Palestinian terrorism. Last year, Congress passed the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act, which was meant to do just that. Unfortunately, that legislation has not yielded the intended results and, instead, created unintended foreign policy consequences. As a result, the Palestinian Authority refused to accept any U.S. assistance to the West Bank in Gaza, halting humanitarian programs run by international NGOs, and even our own USAID programming could not continue. The very real impact of these cuts has been felt on the ground. I recently led a bipartisan group of Members to visit a hospital in East Jerusalem that provides some of the only cancer treatments to Palestinians in the West Bank. That hospital has lost 25 percent of its funding. Also affected was U.S. funding for the training of Palestinian Security Forces. These forces cooperate with the Israeli Defense Forces to keep Israelis and Palestinians safe. This program, run by a U.S. General, saves Palestinian lives and Israeli lives, and it is currently not receiving funding. Mr. Speaker, we have a moral obligation to ensure that Americans injured or, even worse, killed by terrorism have a right to seek justice in our courts. We have a moral obligation, as well, to provide lifesaving assistance for those in need. And while this bill represents a compromise, I believe it will achieve both of these goals. Today, we cast a vote to expand relations with one of our closest allies; a relationship that is broad and deep; that highlights the positive impact the United States and Israel can have in so many critical areas when we work together; when we harness our mutual appreciation for science and education and technology; and when we work to advance security in the region. We do all of these because we know that whatever the politics and personalities, we are stronger as a Nation when we stand together with our ally, Israel, in support of security, peace, and democracy. I urge my colleagues to stand with me today and to support this good piece of legislation. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon). Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I think this is a very important bill, and I am proud to support H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act, that will make our bilateral security and economic cooperation stronger and more stable than ever before. [[Page H7198]] On September 14 of 2016, the U.S. and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding ensuring $33 billion of military and strategic support over a 10-year period. {time} 1630 It reaffirmed the importance of continuing annual U.S. military assistance to Israel, our cooperative missile defense programs, in addition to other shared economic and technology interests. The bill before us codifies that assistance for the next 10 years, while providing us with the flexibility to increase that support should Israel be under an imminent threat of a military attack. It strengthens Israel's qualitative military edge and advances our collaboration on a range of issues, such as cybersecurity and space exploration, as well as authorizing $12 million for the U.S.-Israel Energy Center and, through USAID, advances our common goals of promoting agriculture, education, and trade with other countries around the world. As our strongest and most capable ally in a turbulent region, Israel is an essential U.S. strategic partner. Israel is also a target for hostile actors who call for her destruction. Just 2 months ago, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorist groups launched over 600 rockets and mortars at Israeli civilian targets, killing four and wounding eight. May was Israel's deadliest month in almost 2 years. In addition to the threat coming from these terrorist groups, Israel faces a threat of a resurgent Iran, whose militias and proxies, from Iraq to Syria to Lebanon, continue to grow in numbers, weapons, and strength. Just recently, Chairman Deutch and I heard firsthand from Prime Minister Netanyahu some of these complex and serious existential challenges that seek to undermine our strategic ally. Mr. Speaker, it is now more important than ever that the United States stand with the democratic Jewish State of Israel and what she represents, which is freedom, democracy, and equality in that region. For that, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close. I want to, first of all, thank the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon) for her very eloquent statement and for her deep concern for the State of Israel. I thank her for that leadership. I would also like to thank, in closing, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Wilson, Chairman Engel, Ranking Member McCaul, and the Foreign Affairs Committee membership for their bipartisan work, and the staff, to ensure that the United States and Israel can work together to respond to shared challenges. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider). Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1837, the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act. Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East, and we work jointly in a number of strategic areas. This bill strengthens our partnership and expands important economic, scientific, and security cooperation between the United States and Israel. This bill also encourages the United States to designate a new coordinator of U.S.-Israel research and development and establishes a grant program on cybersecurity development. It authorizes R&D on issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, agriculture, and the development of health technologies, as well as vital security assistance in accordance with the 2016 MOU. It also provides an important fix that ensures a path to justice for American victims of terrorism and retains our ability to provide vital assistance that promotes security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians. I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Deutch and Mr. Wilson, for their leadership on this important bipartisan bill. I urge all my colleagues to vote on this bill. Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. The United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act is an excellent bipartisan bill designed to further strengthen the relationship between Israel and the United States, give American victims their day in court, and restore assistance to the Palestinians. I strongly support this bill. I urge all Members to join me in doing so. Again, this is a bipartisan bill showing, again, the strong support that the United States and Israel have for each other. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1837, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________
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