United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014
Bill Number:
S. 2673
Bill Status:
Bill Location:
Date of Last Action:
Friday, December 5, 2014
Country(s):
Israel
Relevant Text:
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. 2673 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.2673
One Hundred Thirteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
the third day of January, two thousand and fourteen
An Act
To enhance the strategic partnership between the United States and
Israel.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Israel Strategic
Partnership Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The people and the Governments of the United States and of
Israel share a deep and unbreakable bond, forged by over 60 years
of shared interests and shared values.
(2) Today, the people and Governments of the United States and
of Israel are facing a dynamic and rapidly changing security
environment in the Middle East and North Africa, necessitating
deeper cooperation on a range of defense, security, and
intelligence matters.
(3) From Gaza, Hamas continues to deny Israel's right to exist
and persists in firing rockets indiscriminately at population
centers in Israel.
(4) Hezbollah--with support from Iran--continues to stockpile
rockets and may be seeking to exploit the tragic and volatile
security situation within Syria.
(5) The Government of Iran continues to pose a grave threat to
the region and the world at large with its reckless pursuit of
nuclear weapons.
(6) Given these challenges, it is imperative that the United
States continues to deepen cooperation with allies like Israel in
pursuit of shared policy objectives.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to reaffirm the unwavering support of the people and the
Government of the United States for the security of Israel as a
Jewish state;
(2) to reaffirm the principles and objectives enshrined in the
United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012
(Public Law 112-150) and ensure its implementation to the fullest
extent;
(3) to reaffirm the importance of the 2007 United States-Israel
Memorandum of Understanding on United States assistance to Israel
and the semi-annual Strategic Dialogue between the United States
and Israel;
(4) to pursue every opportunity to deepen cooperation with
Israel on a range of critical issues including defense, homeland
security, energy, and cybersecurity;
(5) to continue to provide Israel with robust security
assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome Missile
Defense System; and
(6) to support the Government of Israel in its ongoing efforts
to reach a negotiated political settlement with the Palestinian
people that results in two states living side-by-side in peace and
security.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ISRAEL AS A MAJOR STRATEGIC PARTNER.
It is the sense of Congress that Israel is a major strategic
partner of the United States.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.
(a) Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005.--Section
12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public
Law 108-287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended by striking ``more than 10
years after'' and inserting ``more than 11 years after''.
(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 ``and 2014'' and inserting ``, 2014, and 2015''.
SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAEL FOR THE STRATEGIC TRADE AUTHORIZATION
EXCEPTION TO CERTAIN EXPORT CONTROL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that Israel--
(1) has adopted high standards in the field of export controls;
(2) has declared its unilateral adherence to the Missile
Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and the Nuclear
Suppliers Group; and
(3) is a party to--
(A) the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the
Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be
Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, signed
at Geneva October 10, 1980;
(B) 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
(C) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear
Material, adopted at Vienna on October 26, 1979.
(b) Eligibility for Strategic Trade Authorization Exception.--The
President, consistent with the commitments of the United States under
international arrangements, shall 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,
reexport, or in-country transfer of an item subject to controls under
the Export Administration Regulations.
SEC. 7. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ON ENERGY, WATER, HOMELAND
SECURITY, AGRICULTURE, AND ALTERNATIVE FUEL TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) In General.--The President is authorized, subject to existing
law--
(1) to undertake activities in cooperation with Israel; and
(2) to provide assistance promoting cooperation in the fields
of energy, water, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies.
(b) Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (a), the President is
authorized, subject to existing requirements of law and any applicable
agreements or understandings between the United States and Israel--
(1) to share and exchange with Israel research, technology,
intelligence, information, equipment, and personnel, including
through sales, leases, or exchanges in kind, that the President
determines will advance the national security interests of the
United States and are consistent with the Strategic Dialogue and
pertinent provisions of law; and
(2) to enhance scientific cooperation between Israel and the
United States.
(c) Cooperative Research Pilot Programs.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security, acting through the Director of the Homeland Security Advanced
Research Projects Agency and with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, is authorized, subject to existing law, to enter into
cooperative research pilot programs with Israel to enhance Israel's
capabilities in--
(1) border, maritime, and aviation security;
(2) explosives detection; and
(3) emergency services.
SEC. 8. REPORT ON INCREASED UNITED STATES-ISRAEL COOPERATION ON
CYBERSECURITY.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report, in a classified
format or including a classified annex, as appropriate, on the
feasibility and advisability of expanding United States-Israeli
cooperation on cyber issues, including sharing and advancing
technologies related to the prevention of cybercrimes.
SEC. 9. STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM.
It shall be the policy of the United States to include Israel in
the list of countries that participate in the visa waiver program under
section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) when
Israel satisfies, and as long as Israel continues to satisfy, the
requirements for inclusion in such program specified in such section.
SEC. 10. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 4 OF THE UNITED STATES-
ISRAEL ENHANCED SECURITY COOPERATION ACT OF 2012.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the President shall, to the extent practicable and in an
appropriate manner, provide an update to the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, and
the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on
current and future efforts undertaken by the President to fulfill the
objectives of section 4 of the United States-Israel Enhanced Security
Cooperation Act (22 U.S.C. 8603).
SEC. 11. IMPROVED REPORTING ON ENHANCING ISRAEL'S QUALITATIVE
MILITARY EDGE AND SECURITY POSTURE.
(a) Biennial Assessment Reevaluations.--Section 201(c) of the Naval
Vessel Transfer Act of 2008 (22 U.S.C. 2776 note) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(3) Biennial updates.--Two years after the date on which each
quadrennial report is transmitted to Congress, the President
shall--
``(A) reevaluate the assessment required under subsection
(a); and
``(B) inform and consult with the appropriate congressional
committees on the results of the reevaluation conducted
pursuant to subparagraph (A).''.
(b) Certification Requirements for Major Defense Equipment.--
Section 36(h) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Requirements with respect to determination for major
defense equipment.--A determination under paragraph (1) relating to
the sale or export of major defense equipment shall include--
``(A) a detailed explanation of Israel's capacity to
address the improved capabilities provided by such sale or
export;
``(B) a detailed evaluation of--
``(i) how such sale or export alters the strategic and
tactical balance in the region, including relative
capabilities; and
``(ii) Israel's capacity to respond to the improved
regional capabilities provided by such sale or export;
``(C) an identification of any specific new capacity,
capabilities, or training that Israel may require to address
the regional or country-specific capabilities provided by such
sale or export; and
``(D) a description of any additional United States
security assurances to Israel made, or requested to be made, in
connection with, or as a result of, such sale or export.''.
SEC. 12. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION.
(a) Findings.--Section 917(a) of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``renewable'' and inserting
``covered'';
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking ``possible many'' and inserting
``possible--
``(A) many''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following: ``and
``(B) significant contributions to the development of
renewable energy and energy efficiency through the established
programs of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial
Research and Development Foundation and the United States-
Israel Binational Science Foundation;'';
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting ``covered'';
and
(B) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(4) in paragraph (7)--
(A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting ``covered'';
and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) United States-Israel energy cooperation and the
development of natural resources by Israel are in the strategic
interest of the United States;
``(9) Israel is a strategic partner of the United States in
water technology;
``(10) the United States can play a role in assisting Israel
with regional safety and security issues;
``(11) the National Science Foundation of the United States, to
the extent consistent with the National Science Foundation's
mission, should collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation and
the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation;
``(12) the United States and Israel should strive to develop
more robust academic cooperation in--
``(A) energy innovation technology and engineering;
``(B) water science;
``(C) technology transfer; and
``(D) analysis of emerging geopolitical implications,
crises and threats from foreign natural resource and energy
acquisitions, and the development of domestic resources as a
response;
``(13) the United States supports the goals of the Alternative
Fuels Administration of Israel with respect to expanding the use of
alternative fuels;
``(14) the United States strongly urges open dialogue and
continued mechanisms for regular engagement and encourages further
cooperation between applicable departments, agencies, ministries,
institutions of higher education, and the private sector of the
United States and Israel on energy security issues, including--
``(A) identifying policy priorities associated with the
development of natural resources of Israel;
``(B) discussing and sharing best practices to secure cyber
energy infrastructure and other energy security matters;
``(C) leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional
stability;
``(D) issues relating to the energy-water nexus, including
improving energy efficiency and the overall performance of
water technologies through research and development in water
desalination, wastewater treatment and reclamation, water
treatment in gas and oil production processes, and other water
treatment refiners;
``(E) technical and environmental management of deep-water
exploration and production;
``(F) emergency response and coastal protection and
restoration;
``(G) academic outreach and engagement;
``(H) private sector and business development engagement;
``(I) regulatory consultations;
``(J) leveraging alternative transportation fuels and
technologies; and
``(K) any other areas determined appropriate by the United
States and Israel;
``(15) the United States--
``(A) acknowledges the achievements and importance of the
Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation and
the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; and
``(B) supports continued multiyear funding to ensure the
continuity of the programs of the foundations specified in
subparagraph (A); and
``(16) the United States and Israel have a shared interest in
addressing immediate, near-term, and long-term energy, energy
poverty, energy independence, and environmental challenges facing
the United States and Israel, respectively.''.
(b) Grant Program.--Section 917(b) of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``renewable energy or energy
efficiency'' and inserting ``covered energy'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(H) natural gas energy, including conventional and
unconventional natural gas technologies and other associated
technologies, and natural gas projects conducted by or in
conjunction with the United States-Israel Binational Science
Foundation and the United States-Israel Binational Industrial
Research and Development Foundation; and
``(I) improvement of energy efficiency and the overall
performance of water technologies through research and
development in water desalination, wastewater treatment and
reclamation, and other water treatment refiners.''; and
(3) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``energy efficiency or
renewable'' and inserting ``covered''.
(c) International Partnerships; Regional Energy Cooperation.--
(1) International partnerships.--Section 917 of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337) is
amended--
(A) by striking subsection (d);
(B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e);
(C) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) International Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, subject to the availability
of appropriations, may enter into cooperative agreements supporting
and enhancing dialogue and planning involving international
partnerships between the Department, including National
Laboratories of the Department, and the Government of Israel and
its ministries, offices, and institutions.
``(2) Federal share.--The Secretary may not pay more than 50
percent of Federal share of the costs of implementing cooperative
agreements entered into pursuant to paragraph (1).
``(3) Annual reports.--If the Secretary enters into agreements
authorized by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit an annual
report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
that describes--
``(A) actions taken to implement such agreements; and
``(B) any projects undertaken pursuant to such agreements.
``(d) United States-Israel Energy Center.--The Secretary may
establish a joint United States-Israel Energy Center in the United
States leveraging the experience, knowledge, and expertise of
institutions of higher education and entities in the private sector,
among others, in offshore energy development to further dialogue and
collaboration to develop more robust academic cooperation in energy
innovation technology and engineering, water science, technology
transfer, and analysis of emerging geopolitical implications, crises
and threats from foreign natural resource and energy acquisitions, and
the development of domestic resources as a response.''; and
(D) in subsection (e), as redesignated, by striking ``the
date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act''
and inserting ``September 30, 2024''.
(2) Constructive regional energy cooperation.--The Secretary of
State shall continue the ongoing diplomacy efforts of the Secretary
of State in--
(A) engaging and supporting the energy security of Israel;
and
(B) promoting constructive regional energy cooperation in
the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.