On the recordJuly 31, 2014
early this week I joined with Senator Boxer to introduce the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014. This is an updated version of bipartisan legislation we introduced in March of last year. It is designed to help the economic strength, the security cooperation between our two countries. As of right now, Senator Boxer and I and 79 of our colleagues, including the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Menendez, are cosponsors, so 81 Members have cosponsored this legislation at a very important time. I think it sends a message to the world and it sends a message to Israel that our partnership is strong. It sends the message that the Congress, starting with the Senate, is committed to that partnership. It says that not only do we want to have the kind of defensive understanding we have had so we have joint defense agreements, so we have the kind of equipment and supplies stationed in Israel that we need and use in a time of crisis or they could borrow from us in times of crisis, but also the economic partnerships in water, energy, in cybersecurity and other information. Certainly looking at what is happening in Gaza, looking at the unique relationship between our two countries, where at least two of the members of the Israeli Defense Forces who have been killed in the last few weeks have also been American citizens.…
