No cosponsors.
This is the annual funding bill for the Department of Defense. It includes a total of $202.434 m. for Israeli missile defense systems being jointly developed by the U.S. and Israel, an increase of $82.8 m. over the president’s budget request. This also represents a sharp increase in yearly funding, which from FY2002 to FY2008 fluctuated between $130 m. and $155 m. and in FY2009 increased to $177.2 m. The additional funds were requested by Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and approved by the bill’s sponsor and chairman of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee John Murtha (D-PA). Of the total provided, $80.092 m. is for the ‘David’s Sling’ Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense system, including research and development for cruise missile defenses; $50.036 m. is for research and development of the Arrow-3 missile system; and a total of $72.306 m. is for the Arrow-2 missile system, $25 m. of which is for production of Arrow-2 missiles and components. Funds made available here for production of missiles and missile components can be transferred to other appropriations available for procurement of other weapons and equipment.
In its report on the bill (report number 111-230), the House Committee on Appropriations directs the Department of Defense to submit a report to the Senate and House defense committees by 1/29/10 detailing the progress made in developing the Arrow-3 and whether development is proceeding on schedule. Both the Senate and House defense committees have noted their concern that developing the Arrow-3 is technically risky and, if development fails, could leave Israel without a long-range missile defense system.
The explanatory statement reconciling the House and Senate versions of this bill allows an unspecified amount for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to begin development of a land-based version of the existing SM-3 missile system (for which the MDA requested $50 m.), which is intended for use by the U.S. military and as a back-up system for Israel should development of the Arrow-3 fail. See H.R. 2647 of 6/2/09 and S. 1390 of 7/2/09 for more details on the Arrow-3 and SM-3 programs and H.R. 3288 of 7/22/09 for more on funding for the SM-3 program.
See also: related measures H.R. 2647 of 6/2/09, S. 1390 and S. 1391 of 7/2/09, and H.R. 3832 of 10/15/09.
Became public law 111-118 (12/19/09 passed in Senate 88-10; 12/16/09 passed in House 395-34).