RJC Applauds New Bill to Strengthen American Security in the Middle East

The Republican Jewish Coalition applauds the introduction of the first Senate bill of the 116th Congress, the "Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019" (S.1). It was introduced yesterday by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Risch (R-ID), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman said:

Last year, the congressional clock ran out without final action on four bills that gained widespread support and are vital to US interests in the Middle East. This important bill brings them together for expedited consideration in the new Congress.

We applaud Senators Rubio, Risch, Gardner and McConnell for moving quickly to address this important unfinished business from the previous Congress. We hope that the bill will be speedily passed by the full Senate and that the House will follow suit.

The "Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019" would: codify the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding on US military assistance to Israel, extend war reserve stockpile authority and authorize the transfer of defense articles to Israel in time of need; reauthorize US defense cooperation with Jordan; impose new sanctions on entities providing financing to the Syrian government while protecting humanitarian efforts to help Syrian civilians; and authorize state or local governments in the US to adopt and enforce measures against entities engaged in commerce- or investment-related BDS activity.