An amendment sponsored by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) to help ensure Israel’s ability to defend itself against existential threats was recently approved in the House.
The legislation was included in the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act that passed in a 315-108 vote.
Roskam’s amendment would require the president to regularly submit to Congress a report confirming that the United States has taken all steps necessary to ensure that Israel maintains an independent capability to remove existential threats to its security and defend its vital national interests.
“Israel’s enemies are our enemies and a threat to Israel is a threat to the United States,” Roskam, the co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus said. “As such, we must do everything in our power to guarantee Israel’s fundamental right to self-defense. That is why I’m pleased that the House passed my amendment, which requires the administration to make certain that Israel can defend itself against any threat.”
The legislation specifies sustaining the transfer of aerial refueling tankers, advanced bunker-buster munitions and other capabilities and platforms critical to Israel’s self-defense.
The 2014 NDAA is a comprehensive bill that authorizes the budget authority of the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.