United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014
Public Law 113-296 · S. 2673 · 113th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Dec 19, 2014 · International Affairs
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Cosponsors (80): Sen. Roy Blunt, Sen. Kelly Ayotte,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 - (Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that Israel is a major U.S. strategic partner.
(Sec. 5) Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 to extend authority to transfer certain obsolete or surplus Department of Defense (DOD) items to Israel.
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend authority to make additions to foreign-based defense stockpiles for use as war reserve stocks through FY2015.
(Sec. 6) Directs the President to take steps to make Israel eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception to the requirement for a license for the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of an item subject to certain export controls.
(Sec. 7) Authorizes the President to carry out U.S.-Israel cooperative activities and to provide assistance for cooperation in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies.
Authorizes the President to: (1) share and exchange with Israel research, technology, intelligence, information, equipment, and personnel that will advance U.S. national security interests; and (2) enhance U.S.-Israel scientific cooperation.
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into cooperative research pilot programs with Israel to enhance Israel's capabilities in: (1) border, maritime, and aviation security; (2) explosives detection; and (3) emergency services.
(Sec. 8) Directs the President to report to Congress regarding the feasibility and advisability of expanding U.S.-Israel cyber cooperation.
(Sec. 9) States that it shall be U.S. policy to include Israel in the visa waiver program when Israel satisfies, and as long as Israel continues to satisfy, program requirements.
(Sec. 10) Directs the President to update Congress on efforts taken, pursuant to the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, to provide Israel with defense articles and defense services, including missile and joint missile defense capabilities including Iron Dome, security and intelligence cooperation, and an expanded role for Israel with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
(Sec. 11) Requires any certification that a sale or export of major defense equipment to a country in the Middle East will not adversely affect Israel's qualitative military edge to include:
• an explanation of Israel's capacity to address the improved capabilities provided by the sale or export;
• an evaluation of how the sale or export alters the regional strategic and tactical balance;
• an identification of any new capacity or training that Israel may require to address the regional or country-specific capabilities provided by such sale or export; and
• a description of any additional U.S. security assurances to Israel made, or requested to be made, in connection with the sale or export.
(Sec. 12) Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to authorize the Secretary of Energy to:
• enter into cooperative agreements supporting dialogue and planning involving international partnerships between the Department of Energy (DOE), including DOE National Laboratories, and the government of Israel and its ministries, offices, and institutions; and
• establish a joint United States-Israel Center in the United States with offshore energy development expertise to develop academic cooperation in energy innovation technology and engineering, water science, technology transfer, and analysis of geopolitical implications of new natural resource development.
Extends through September 30, 2024, the grant program to support U.S.-Israel research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy or energy efficiency. Expands the scope of covered energy under such program, including the coverage of natural gas energy, water desalination improvement, and other water treatment technologies.
Directs the Secretary of State to continue ongoing diplomacy efforts to: (1) support Israel's energy security, and (2) promote regional energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
The record lists no related bills.
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Dec 19, 2014Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 113-296.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 10, 2014FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Dec 3, 2014FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2673.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Sep 19, 2014FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Sep 18, 2014FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Aug 1, 2014CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5321-5322)
- Jul 29, 2014CalendarCalendar · Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
- Jul 28, 2014CalendarCalendar · Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
1 amendment offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.
- Agreed to
S.Amdt. 3933SenateSen. Barbara BoxerD-CA· offered Sep 18, 2014Agreed to
To designate Israel as a program country under the Visa Waiver Program if Israel complies with the generally applicable requirements.
Sep 18, 2014: Amendment SA 3933 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5874; text: CR S5874)
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.