U.S. Representative Ed Royce, (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Photo: U.S. Congress.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), passed legislation on Wednesday to strengthen the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Israel.

“Today, as Israel faces threats in every direction, this legislation is an important measure of U.S. support. This is a strong, bipartisan bill, and I am pleased by its Committee passage,” Royce said.

In a statement from his office, the committee said it passed, as amended, H.R. 938, (Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)), the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, which reaffirms the U.S. commitment to enhancing security cooperation with Israel.

The bill makes additions to Israel-based defense stockpiles, it said, in addition to authorizing cooperative activities in a range of fields, including energy, water, homeland security, agriculture, and civil space. It also provides for a framework to expedite licenses for Israel to acquire U.S. goods and services critical to its defense and requires more timely assessments regarding Israel’s qualitative military edge.