The growing proliferation and increasing deadliness of missiles around the world pose a direct threat to the U.S. and its allies, making funding missile defense systems vitally important for America’s national security. Israel, positioned as one of the most threatened countries, is establishing a multi-tier ballistic missile and rocket defense system, positioned to improve the country’s resilience against such attacks. This effort is winning bipartisan U.S. support, with generous U.S. support funding most of Israel’s missile defense research, development and acquisition programs. Since 2007, the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has allocated more than $750 million in federal funding for the Arrow and David’s Sling anti-missile systems.
Including this year’s allocation of $205 million toward Israel’s Iron Dome program, the Subcommittee has allocated nearly one billion dollars toward these three missile defense systems over the past three years. “This is only the latest example that when it comes to defense, military, and intelligence cooperation, the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has never been stronger.” said subcommittee member, Representative Steve Rothman (D-NJ).
Last week the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives has approved more funds than ever before toward joint U.S.-Israel and Israeli missile defense programs. The Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has just appropriated $217.7 million in funding for essential joint U.S.-Israel missile defense programs, which is an increase of $95.7 million in funds over the original request. “This is only the latest example that when it comes to defense, military, and intelligence cooperation, the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has never been stronger. Chairman Norm Dicks, myself and all the members of the Defense Subcommittee understand how important it is to be at the cutting edge of anti-missile technology, both to safeguard our own citizens and troops, but also those citizens and troops of our allies and friends such as the people of the Jewish state of Israel.” he added that, given the concern and attention Congress is focusing now on government spending for all purposes, including the defense of the United States and its allies, it is a mark of the importance of these projects that they were all funded so robustly and fully by our Subcommittee.
