Passes Foreign Affairs Committee U.S.-Israel security cooperation legislation

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, applauded House passage of H.R. 938, the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014.  The legislation, authored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), reaffirms the U.S. commitment to enhancing security cooperation with Israel.  In January, the bipartisan legislation passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

On the House floor Chairman Royce said:  “From a regime in Tehran that is seeking to acquire a nuclear weapons capability and the missiles to deliver nuclear weapons; to Iran’s proxy Hezbollah, which is greatly expanding its size and influence in Israel’s neighbor Syria, pointing tens of thousands of rockets aimed at Israeli population centers; to the proliferation of al-Qaeda affiliated organizations throughout the region; to the ongoing threat from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad — Israel now faces grave threats. 

“But Israel has also never been as strong as it is now.  Think of Israel’s economic dynamism, its entrepreneurial spirit, innovative culture, and you get a better sense of why there is so strong a bond between the United States and Israel.  

“It’s this dynamic economy and society that are building blocks for Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge and its relationship with the U.S. The U.S. benefits when Israel is strong.

“This legislation stands by our values; stands by our interests; and stands by Israel.” 

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