United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2673,
United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act.

S. 2673 includes language from the Israel QME Enhancement Act. The
Israel QME Enhancement Act is a bill that I sponsored and was supported
unanimously by this body. Israel's qualitative military edge is the
ability to maintain quality arms against numerically superior odds.

My bill provided for a review of Israel's QME at shorter intervals,
from 4 years to 2 years, and I am honored the review language made it
into the Strategic Partnership Act. Both pieces of legislation
recognize Israel's residence in a neighborhood of bad actors.

Over the decades since the establishment of the State of Israel in
1948, it has endured several extended armed conflicts with its
neighbors. From the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 through
Operation Protective Edge, the latest conflict with Hamas, Israel has
endured constant threats.

Another constant is that Israel has been able to depend upon the U.S.
for military assistance. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the U.S.
conducted one of the largest airlifts in U.S. history to assist Israel.

Today, we stand on the floor of the House in support of a bill to
increase its military assistance and to increase the help to our friend
Israel.

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