{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=36271586-57bd-4c37-94bf-91a245191d51", "Blunt, Boxer Praise House Passage Of Senates U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Roy Blunt", "B000575", "www.blunt.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Barbara Boxer (Calif.) praised the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 passage last night of the \u201cUnited States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014,\u201d bipartisan legislation they introduced in July 2014 to help strengthen economic and security cooperation between the two countries. The Boxer-Blunt bill was co-sponsored by a total of 81 Senators, and now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature. Blunt spoke on the U.S. Senate floor in July in support of the bill.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThis bipartisan bill demonstrates Congress\u2019s commitment to supporting our nation\u2019s longstanding ally, Israel,\u201d Blunt said. \u201cI thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for their support in passing this important legislation, and I look forward to the president signing it into law.\u201d \u201cI am proud that the House and Senate spoke with one voice to pass this bill that reaffirms and strengthens the relationship between the United States and Israel,\u201d Boxer said. \u201cI look forward to the President signing this critical legislation.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\r\nThe legislation reaffirms the United States\u2019 unwavering commitment to Israel\u2019s security and the strong, historic U.S.-Israel relationship. It supports efforts to deepen U.S.-Israeli cooperation on defense, and reaffirms that the U.S. will continue to provide robust security assistance to Israel, including for the Iron Dome Missile Defense System.\u00a0 The bill also reiterates U.S. support for a negotiated political settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians that results in two states living side-by-side in peace and security.\u00a0\r\nSpecifically, the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014:\u00a0\r\n \r\nExpresses the sense of Congress that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States.\r\nAuthorizes an increase of $200 million in the value of U.S. weapons held in Israel, to a total of $1.8 billion. This stockpile is intended for use by U.S. forces in the event of a crisis, but it can also be used by Israel in the event of an emergency with Israel reimbursing the U.S. for any weapons used.\r\nRequires the Administration to take steps toward allowing Israel to be included in the top-tier category for license-free exports of certain U.S. technologies and products.\r\nAuthorizes the President to carry out cooperation between the U.S. and Israel on a range of policy areas including energy, water, homeland security, and alternative fuel technologies. And it requires the President to study the feasibility of expanding U.S.-Israel cooperation on cyber security.\r\nStates that it shall be the policy of the United States to include Israel in the list of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program when Israel satisfies, and as long as Israel continues to satisfy, the requirements for inclusion in the program.\r\nRequires the Administration to provide more frequent and more detailed assessments on the status of Israel\u2019s qualitative military edge over its neighbors.\r\nStrengthens collaboration between the U.S. and Israel on energy development and encourages increased cooperation between the two countries\u2019 academic, business and governmental sectors.\r\n \r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ContentRecord_id=36271586-57bd-4c37-94bf-91a245191d51"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5886668115854263, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}