Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1992, the Israel Qualitative Military Edge Enhancement Act, authored by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), and H.R. 3212, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013 authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).  Both bills passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year with bipartisan support.

The Israel Qualitative Military Edge Enhancement Act (H.R. 1992) requires the President to assess every two years Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME) over threats to its homeland.  It also requires a one-time report on how the Administration is integrating cyber and asymmetric threats into its QME analysis.  Following its passage, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement:

Chairman Royce said:  “Not only do the U.S. and Israel share the same values, we share many of the same threats.  Throughout the region Israel faces growing threats—the prospect of a nuclear Iran, Hezbollah, and widespread regional instability.  Retaining a qualitative military edge is critical to Israel’s defense.  Today’s legislation will provide Congress with the timely critical information it needs to assess Israel’s security requirements.  Representative Collins’s bill also helps send the right message at a pivotal time to our friends and foes—the United States stands behind Israel.”

The Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013 (H.R. 3212) seeks to protect children and to assist American parents whose children have been abducted abroad by non-custodial parents. Following its passage, Chairman Royce issued the following statement:

Chairman Royce said:  “Every year, more than one thousand American families are confronted with the nightmare of a child being abducted to a foreign country by one parent, in violation of legal custody and access rights, out of reach of U.S. courts and law enforcement.  Today’s legislation strengthens the tools that the State Department has to resolve abduction cases.  I want to thank Representative Smith for his efforts to keep hope alive for hundreds of suffering American parents.”

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