Ted Deutch: “Today, the House is taking up the Senate version of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, a bill that…”

“Today, the House is taking up the Senate version of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, a bill that passed this Chamber in March with a vote of 410-1. Our vote today will send this important piece of legislation to the President's desk. I am particularly grateful for the efforts of my colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, notably those by Chairman Ed Royce; by ranking member and my friend, Eliot Engel, for helping to ensure this legislation's passage; by the Senate sponsors, Senator Boxer and Senator Blunt; and by my friend, chairman, and stalwart champion of the U.S.-Israel relationship, chairman emeritus Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I would also like to offer a special thanks as well to Casey Kustin, in my office; to Eddy Acevedo; and to the entire committee staff, including Matt Zweig and Mira Resnick, who worked so hard to bring this bill to the floor at this moment. This critical bill enhances the broad cooperation between the United States and Israel on a wide spectrum of issues, and it reflects the simple truth that our bilateral relationship spans not only shared security interests but shared values. This bill was crafted with particular consideration of the heightened security situation faced by Israel today. This summer's Operation Protective Edge reminds us just how vital and strong U.S.…”