Heard on the Hill

5/16/2008

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Senators Urge Bush to Hold Russia Accountable

Thirty-two senators signed a letter to President Bush expressing concern that America’s nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia would undermine U.S. policy toward Iran. The letter, authored by Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Evan Bayh (D-IN), urges the president to refrain from sending the agreement to Congress until Russia ends its support for Iran’s illicit nuclear program. Once the agreement is sent to Capitol Hill, Congress would have 90 days to reject it.

Senate Panel Backs U.S.-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2009, authorizing $162 million for Israel’s Arrow and short-range missile defense programs as part of the Department of Defense’s overall budget. The bill authorizes a $30 million increase from the president’s original budget request in order to enhance the missile shield. It also adds $28 million for the short-range “David’s Sling” program—which aims to intercept missiles traveling more than 25 miles—and funds for other joint U.S.-Israel programs. The bill heads to the Senate floor in late May.

House Committee Endorses Security Assistance to Israel

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved legislation that authorizes $2.55 billion in security assistance to Israel for fiscal year 2009. The bill endorses the implementation of a 10-year U.S.-Israel agreement that pledges $30 billion in security assistance to Israel over the next decade. Passed by voice vote, the legislation requires the president to evaluate on an ongoing basis and report to Congress the extent to which Israel has a qualitative military edge over all possible military threats, and to assess all future U.S. military sales in that context.

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