Sec. 101. Findings

630 words·~3 min read·/bill/115/s/2497/is/section-101

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Congress makes the following findings: In April 1998, the United States designated Israel as a major non-NATO ally . On August 16, 2007, the United States and Israel signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding on United States military assistance to Israel. The total assistance over the course of this understanding would equal $30,000,000,000. On July 27, 2012, the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–150 ; 22 U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) declared it to be the policy of the United States to help the Government of Israel preserve its qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional political transformation and provide Israel defense articles and services, to include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions .

On December 19, 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–296 ) which stated the sense of Congress that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States and declared it to be the policy of the United States to continue to provide Israel with robust security assistance, including for the procurement of the Iron Dome Missile Defense System . Section 1679 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 ( Public Law 114–92 ; 129 Stat. 1135) authorized funds to be appropriated for Israeli cooperative missile defense program codevelopment and coproduction, including funds to be provided to the Government of Israel to procure the David’s Sling weapon system as well as the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program.

On June 22, 2016, Senate Resolution 508 (114th Congress) was introduced in the United States Senate, expressing support for the expeditious consideration and finalization of a new, robust, and long-term Memorandum of Understanding on military assistance to Israel between the United States Government and the Government of Israel. Senate Resolution 508 provides that the Senate— reaffirms that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States ; reaffirms that it is the policy and law of the United States to ensure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge and has the capacity and capability to defend itself from all credible military threats ; reaffirms United States support of a robust Israeli tiered missile defense program ; supports continued discussions between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel for a robust and long-term Memorandum of Understanding on United States military assistance to Israel ; urges the expeditious finalization of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel ; and supports a robust and long-term Memorandum of Understanding negotiated between the United States and Israel regarding military assistance which increases the amount of aid from previous agreements and significantly enhances Israel's military capabilities .

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. The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding reflected United States support of Foreign Military Financing

(FMF)grant assistance to Israel over the ten year period beginning in fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028. FMF grant assistance would be at a level of $3,300,000,000 annually, totaling $33,000,000,000, the largest United States assistance package ever and a reiteration of the seven-decade, unshakeable, bipartisan commitment of the United States to Israel’s security. The 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 ten year period beginning in fiscal year 2019 and ending in fiscal year 2028 at a level of $500,000,000 per year, totaling $5,000,000,000.

Connectionstraces to 3

Traces to 3 documents

U.S. Code