WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– Representative Steve Rothman (D-NJ), a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, released the following statement on the $205 million allocated toward Iron Dome, an advanced Israeli anti-rocket system, that has been included in the continuing resolution (H.R. 3082) to fund the rest of Fiscal Year 2011 that passed Wednesday evening, Dec. 8, by a vote of 212 to 206:
“I am extremely pleased and proud that President Obama’s allocation for Israel’s Iron Dome program was included in the House’s funding bill for the upcoming year. This was a priority of Congress and President Obama, and it is the first funding of its kind for this important short-range rocket and artillery shell defense system. The money for Iron Dome is in addition to the more than $200 million allocated for the Arrow and David’s Sling joint U.S.-Israel anti-missile systems that has also been included in the continuing resolution.
“This funding sends a strong message, to both our enemies and allies, by providing more total dollars than ever before toward these rocket and missile defense programs. 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.
“Given the scrutiny that our nation is appropriately giving to every dollar expended for all purposes – including the defense of the United States and its allies – it is a mark of the great importance of these projects that they were included in this funding bill.
“I thank President Obama, Congressional leadership, and all of my colleagues for our work together to allocate funds for this game-changing technology. The growing proliferation and increasing deadliness of rockets and missiles around the world pose a direct threat to the U.S. and our allies, especially the Jewish State of Israel, making funding these systems vitally important for America’s national security.
Summary of CR: http://appropriations.house.gov/images/stories/pdf/Full/Summary_of_FY11_Year_Long_Funding_Resolution.pdf
Bill text: http://appropriations.house.gov/images/stories/pdf/Full/2011_Full_Year_funding_resolution.pdf
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Preceding provided by Congressman Steve Rothman