Heard on the Hill

7/1/2008

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Congress Boosts Aid to Israel

The House and Senate passed—and President Bush signed into law—a bill that increases Israel’s total security assistance for fiscal year 2009 to $2.55 billion. The boost in Israel’s aid, $170 million, was included as part of a supplemental spending package for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Backed by the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate, the supplemental aid reflects American commitments to Israel under the new 10-year, $30 billion aid agreement signed by the two countries last year.

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Letters Reiterate Key Peace Principles

In bipartisan letters sent to President Bush, Congress reaffirmed American support for Israel’s quest for peace. The House and Senate letters to the White House also reiterated Israel’s right to self-defense and called on Arab states to do more to support Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The House letter, signed by 268 representatives, was authored by Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Howard Berman (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). The Senate letter, signed by 77 senators, including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), was authored by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), and was reinforced by an additional message by Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

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Lawmakers Back U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water passed an energy bill that includes $2 million in funding for U.S.-Israel energy cooperation programs aimed at reducing the two countries’ dependence on oil. The new funding, championed by Reps. Steve Israel (D-NY) and Pete Visclosky (D-IN), would help advance joint programming in the fields of solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and other areas.  •NER•

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