GILLIBRAND, INHOFE SECURE NEARLY $270 MILLION FOR U.S.-ISRAEL COOPERATIVE MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS IN FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN SENATE-HOUSE DEFENSE BILLS –

WILL HEAD TO PRESIDENT’S DESK AS PART OF 2013 DEFENSE BILL

Lawmakers Fight to Strengthen National Security, Increase Funding for US-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation

 Gillibrand, Inhofe: “Missile Defense Programs are a Win-Win for Both U.S. and Israel”

 Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and James Inhofe (R-OK) today announced that the Senate-House conference committee included nearly $270 million for the U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013. Earlier this month, the lawmakers urged the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees to allocate nearly $270 million provided by the appropriators. Now that the measure has cleared the bipartisan conference committee, it is expected to pass both houses of Congress this week and will head to the President’s desk for his signature.

Last week, Senators Gillibrand and Inhofe wrote in a letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), Ranking Member John McCain (R-AZ), House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard McKeon (R-CA), and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), “As witnessed by the recent attacks on Israel from Gaza, the continued joint efforts of the United States and Israel in missile defense systems is critical to protecting this close U.S. ally and American interests in that region…. The technology yields results that both of our militaries will utilize in our respective defense systems. U.S. funding is fully matched by that of Israel. This is, in short, a win-win.”

The Senators pointed out that the Iron Dome air defense system, which was developed in 2007 to counter rockets and short-range missiles against attacks, was critical in intercepting and destroying an estimated 400 rockets before they reached Israeli soil and caused widespread devastation. The recent successful test of the David’s Sling weapon system highlights the opportunity to increase funding in order to complete the development of the U.S-Israel cooperative missile defense programs, allowing Israel to defend its citizens from hostile threats.