The House on Nov. 29 unanimously passed by voice vote two bills designed to improve cooperation with Israel in the area of cyber security.
The United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act (H.R. 5877) would expand an existing binational research and development program at the Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency to include cyber security technologies.
The bill would also help early development cyber security technologies clear the hurdle between basic and early applied research and commercialization.
The United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act (H.R. 5843) would create a grant program for joint cyber security research and development ventures between Israeli and American organizations. The bill allows DHS, with input from successful U.S.-Israeli partnerships, to determined research requirements.
The legislation must still be approved by the Senate. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) and Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) introduced the bills earlier in 2016 following a visit to Israel that included briefings on cyber security efforts in that country.
“Israel is a vital strategic partner and I’m pleased to be working closely with Rep. Langevin to preserve and strengthen this important bond through joint cyber security efforts,” Ratcliffe said in a statement. “Cyber security is national security and enhancing joint research and development efforts between the United States and Israel will improve our countries’ ability to deter malicious cyber actors.”
Ratcliffe chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity. Langevin is co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus.