Yesterday evening the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014.

The Times of Israel reports:

The legislation deepens US-Israeli cooperation on defense and energy, and expresses “the sense of Congress that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States.” In addition, it authorizes an increase of $200 million in the value of US weapons held in forward stockpiles in Israel, to a total of $1.8 billion. In the event of an emergency, Israel can access the stockpiles as long as it reimburses the US for any weapons used.

The bill also expands cooperation on research and development, business, agriculture, water management and academics. The bill requires the administration to take steps toward allowing Israel to be included in the top-tier category for license-free exports of certain US defense technologies and products as well as to provide more frequent and more detailed assessments on the status of Israel’s qualitative military edge over its neighbors.

Agence France-Presse quoted Representatives from both parties praising the bill: “Israel is a bright light in a very, very dark region,” veteran Democrat Eliot Engel said on the House floor shortly before the vote. He noted how the bill was aimed in part at helping Israel maintain a “qualitative military edge” over its adversaries. “We must always be working to ensure that our support for Israel keeps pace with the threats proliferating against the country–from Iran to Hamas,” House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce added in a statement.

The House vote was for a Senate version of the bill. Both senators, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) who sponsored the Senate bill hailed the House’s vote. “I am proud that the House and Senate spoke with one voice to pass this bill that reaffirms and strengthens the relationship between the United States and Israel,” Senator Boxer said. “I look forward to the President signing this critical legislation.”

“This bipartisan bill demonstrates Congress’s commitment to supporting our nation’s longstanding ally, Israel,” Senator Blunt said. “I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for their support in passing this important legislation, and I look forward to the president signing it into law.”

The press release from Boxer’s office outlines the areas of cooperation that will be strengthened through the bill.

• Expresses the sense of Congress that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States.

• Authorizes an increase of $200 million in the value of U.S. weapons held in Israel, to a total of $1.8 billion. This stockpile is intended for use by U.S. forces in the event of a crisis, but it can also be used by Israel in the event of an emergency with Israel reimbursing the U.S. for any weapons used.

• Requires the Administration to take steps toward allowing Israel to be included in the top-tier category for license-free exports of certain U.S. technologies and products.

• Authorizes the President to carry out cooperation between the U.S. and Israel on a range of policy areas including energy, water, homeland security, and alternative fuel technologies. And it requires the President to study the feasibility of expanding U.S.-Israel cooperation on cyber security.

• States that it shall be the policy of the United States to include Israel in the list of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program when Israel satisfies, and as long as Israel continues to satisfy, the requirements for inclusion in the program.

• Requires the Administration to provide more frequent and more detailed assessments on the status of Israel’s qualitative military edge over its neighbors.

• Strengthens collaboration between the U.S. and Israel on energy development and encourages increased cooperation between the two countries’ academic, business and governmental sectors.

The bill will now go to President Barack Obama for signing. One element of the bill that is already being realized is increased cooperation between Israel and the United States in the field of energy. Steps have been taken to create the U.S.-Israel Energy Center.

By TheTower.org Staff