HR 3792 — U.S.-Israel Partnership and Abraham Accords Enhancement Act of 2023

(a) Congressional statement of findings (1) (A) The Congress finds that energy development and production are vital elements in the development process, that energy shortages in developing countries severely limit the development process in such countries, that two-thirds of the developing countries which import oil depend on it for at least 90 percent of the energy which their economies require, and that the dramatic increase in world oil prices since 1973 has resulted in considerable economic hardship for many developing countries. The Congress is concerned that the value and purpose of much of the assistance provided to developing countries under sections 2151a, 2151b, and 2151c of this title are undermined by the inability of many developing countries to satisfy their energy requirements. Unless the energy deficit of the developing countries can be narrowed by more fully exploiting indigenous sources of energy such as oil, natural gas, and coal, scarce foreign exchange will increasingly have to be diverted to oil imports, primarily to the detriment of long-term development and economic growth. (B) The Congress recognizes that many developing countries lack access to the financial resources and technology necessary to locate, explore, and develop indigenous energy resources. (C) The Congress declares that there is potential for at least a moderate increase by 1990 in the production of energy for commercial use in the developing countries which are not members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. In addition, there is a compelling need for vigorous efforts to improve the available data on the location, scale, and commercial exploitability of potential oil, natural gas, and coal reserves in developing countries, especially those which are not members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The Congress further declares that there are many benefits to be gained by the developing countries and by the United States and other developed countries through expanded efforts to expedite the location, exploration, and development of potential sources of energy in developing countries. These benefits include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) The world’s energy supply would be increased and the fear of abrupt depletion would be lessened with new energy production. This could have a positive impact upon energy prices in international markets as well as a positive effect upon the balance of payments problems of many developing countries. (ii) Diversification of the world’s supplies of energy from fossil fuels would make all countries, developing and developed, less susceptible to supply interruptions and arbitrary production and pricing policies. (iii) Even a moderate increase in energy production in the developing countries would improve their ability to expand commercial trade, foreign investment, and technology transfer possibilities with the United States and other developed countries. (D) Assistance for the production of energy from indigenous resources, as authorized by subsection (b) of this section, would be of direct benefit to the poor in developing countries because of the overwhelming impact of imported energy costs upon the lives of the poor and their ability to participate in development. (2) The Congress also finds that energy production from renewable, decentralized sources and energy conservation are vital elements in the development process. Inadequate access by the poor to energy sources as well as the prospect of depleted fossil fuel reserves and higher energy prices require an enhanced effort to expand the energy resources of developing countries through greater emphasis on renewable sources. Renewable and decentralized energy technologies have particular applicability for the poor, especially in rural areas. (b) General assistance authority; cooperative programs in energy production and conservation; program goals (1) In order to help developing countries alleviate their ene...

(a) Transfer of defense articles No defense article in the inventory of the Department of Defense which is set aside, reserved, or in any way earmarked or intended for future use by any foreign country may be made available to or for use by any foreign country unless such transfer is authorized under this chapter or the Arms Export Control Act [22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.] or any subsequent corresponding legislation, and the value of such transfer is charged against funds authorized under such legislation or against the limitations specified in such legislation, as appropriate, for the fiscal period in which such defense article is transferred. For purposes of this subsection, “value” means the acquisition cost plus crating, packing, handling, and transportation costs incurred in carrying out this section. (b) Fiscal year limits on new stockpiles or additions to existing stockpiles located in foreign countries (1) The value of defense articles to be set aside, earmarked, reserved, or intended for use as war reserve stocks for allied or other foreign countries (other than for purposes of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or in the implementation of agreements with Israel) in stockpiles located in foreign countries may not exceed in any fiscal year an amount that is specified in security assistance authorizing legislation for that fiscal year. (2) (A) The value of such additions to stockpiles of defense articles in foreign countries shall not exceed $500,000,000 for any of the fiscal years 2023 through 2028. (B) Of the amount specified in subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, not more than $200,000,000 may be made available for stockpiles in the State of Israel. (c) Location of stockpiles of defense articles (1) Limitation Except as provided in paragraph (2), no stockpile of defense articles may be located outside the boundaries of a United States military base or a military base used primarily by the United States. (2) Exceptions Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to stockpiles of defense articles located in the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, any country that is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, any country that is a major non-NATO ally, or any other country the President may designate. At least 15 days before designating a country pursuant to the last clause of the preceding sentence, the President shall notify the congressional committees specified in section 2394–1(a) of this title in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under that section. (d) Transferred articles not to be considered excess articles in determining value No defense article transferred from any stockpile which is made available to or for use by any foreign country may be considered an excess defense article for the purpose of determining the value thereof.

(a) Findings Congress finds that— (1) it is in the highest national security interests of the United States to develop covered energy sources; (2) the State of Israel is a steadfast ally of the United States; (3) the special relationship between the United States and Israel is manifested in a variety of cooperative scientific research and development programs, such as— (A) the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; and (B) the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation; (4) those programs have made possible— (A) many scientific, technological, and commercial breakthroughs in the fields of life sciences, medicine, bioengineering, agriculture, biotechnology, communications, and others; and (B) significant contributions to the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency through the established programs of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; (5) on February 1, 1996, the Secretary of Energy (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) and the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure signed an agreement to establish a framework for collaboration between the United States and Israel in energy research and development activities; (6) Israeli scientists and engineers are at the forefront of research and development in the field of covered energy sources; (7) enhanced cooperation between the United States and Israel for the purpose of research and development of covered energy sources would be in the national interests of both countries; (8) United States-Israel energy cooperation and the development of natural resources by Israel are in the strategic interest of the United States; (9) Israel is a strategic partner of the United States in water technology; (10) the United States can play a role in assisting Israel with regional safety and security issues; (11) the National Science Foundation of the United States, to the extent consistent with the National Science Foundation’s mission, should collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; (12) the United States and Israel should strive to develop more robust academic cooperation in— (A) energy innovation technology and engineering; (B) water science; (C) technology transfer; and (D) analysis of emerging geopolitical implications, crises and threats from foreign natural resource and energy acquisitions, and the development of domestic resources as a response; (13) the United States supports the goals of the Alternative Fuels Administration of Israel with respect to expanding the use of alternative fuels; (14) the United States strongly urges open dialogue and continued mechanisms for regular engagement and encourages further cooperation between applicable departments, agencies, ministries, institutions of higher education, and the private sector of the United States and Israel on energy security issues, including— (A) identifying policy priorities associated with the development of natural resources of Israel; (B) discussing and sharing best practices to secure cyber energy infrastructure and other energy security matters; (C) leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional stability; (D) issues relating to the energy-water nexus, including improving energy efficiency and the overall performance of water technologies through research and development in water desalination, wastewater treatment and reclamation, water treatment in gas and oil production processes, and other water treatment refiners; (E) technical and environmental management of deep-water exploration and production; (F) emergency response and coastal protection and restoration; (G) academic outreach and engagement; (H) private sector and business development engagement; (I) regulatory consultations; (J) leveraging alternative transportation fuels and technologies; and (K) any other area...