H.R. 7540

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7540 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7540

To enhance bilateral defense cooperation between the United States and 
Israel, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 12, 2026

Mr. Jackson of Texas (for himself and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To enhance bilateral defense cooperation between the United States and 
Israel, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Israel Framework for 
Upgraded Technologies, Unified Research, and Enhanced Security Act of 
2026'' or the ``United States-Israel FUTURES Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States and Israel--
(A) are bound by shared democratic values, 
strategic interests, and deep cultural and 
technological ties; and
(B) can benefit from further joint innovation and 
rapid technology deployment in facing common and 
evolving security challenges;
(2) Israel is a strategic and capable ally of the United 
States that advances United States strategic interests, 
strengthens United States military capabilities, and bolsters 
the United States economy;
(3) as a global leader and innovator in the development of 
defense technology, Israel is a close foreign defense partner 
of the United States;
(4) on September 14, 2016, the United States and Israel 
signed a 10-year memorandum of understanding reaffirming the 
importance of continuing annual United States military 
assistance to Israel and cooperative missile defense programs 
in a way that enhances the security and bilateral relationship 
between the two countries;
(5) the United States-Israel defense partnership, through 
sustained joint research and development, has yielded critical 
advances in both countries' national security capabilities in 
areas such as missile defense, directed energy, counter drone, 
anti-tunneling, counterterrorism, and emerging technologies;
(6) to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge while 
deterring adversaries and ensuring mutual security, the United 
States and Israel must expand cooperation in emerging domains; 
and
(7) to grow American technological supremacy, the United 
States must leverage the unique capabilities offered by each 
country and more rapidly integrate jointly developed and 
Israeli-origin defense technologies into United States military 
systems, programs of record, and the defense industrial base.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES-ISRAEL DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY 
COOPERATION INITIATIVE.

(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence 
of the Minister of Defense of Israel, shall establish a cooperative 
initiative, to be known as the ``United States-Israel Defense 
Technology Cooperation Initiative'', to expand and accelerate bilateral 
defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, 
integration, and industrial cooperation by--
(1) identifying jointly developed or Israeli-origin 
technologies with operational utility for integration into 
United States systems and programs of record;
(2) conducting collaborative research initiatives involving 
government, private sector, and academic institutions in the 
United States and Israel, in a manner that protects sensitive 
technology and information and the national security interests 
of the United States and Israel;
(3) facilitating the transition of technologies from 
research and development into procurement and acquisition 
pathways;
(4) establishing frameworks for joint ventures, licensing 
agreements, and United States-based co-production or 
manufacturing partnerships with Israeli industry;
(5) coordinating with relevant Department of Defense 
components, including the Irregular Warfare Technical Support 
Directorate, capability development and innovation divisions, 
the Defense Innovation Unit, the United States-Israel 
Operations Technology Working Group, the Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency, the Missile Defense Agency and United 
States Space Command, and the military services, to align 
efforts and avoid duplication; and
(6) promoting joint training exercises and information-
sharing mechanisms to enhance operational readiness to deploy 
jointly developed technologies.
(b) Initiative Domains.--The Initiative shall be carried out 
through cooperative efforts in domains such as the following:
(1) Counter-Unmanned Systems including aerial, maritime, 
and ground platforms.
(2) Anti-tunneling and subterranean threats.
(3) Missile and air defense technologies, including Golden 
Dome for America.
(4) Artificial intelligence, quantum, machine learning, and 
autonomous systems.
(5) Directed energy and advanced sensing.
(6) Cyber defense, electronic warfare, and digital 
resilience.
(7) Biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and medical defense.
(8) Network integration, data fusion, and contested 
logistics.
(9) Defense industrial base cooperation, manufacturing, and 
co-production.
(10) Other emerging technologies as jointly agreed by the 
United States and Israel.
(c) Activities in Coordination With Other Federal Departments and 
Agencies.--The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate activities under 
the Initiative with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, 
and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to 
ensure consistency with existing laws and regulations.

SEC. 4. REPORTING.

(a) Interim Progress Update.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide 
to the congressional defense committees an interim briefing or written 
update describing--
(1) steps taken to stand up the initiative;
(2) early coordination with Israeli counterparts;
(3) initial technology areas identified for accelerated 
cooperation and technologies with operational utility for 
integration into United States systems and programs of record;
(4) Department of Defense components designated to lead 
implementation; and
(5) any early transition, prototyping, or integration 
activities initiated during the period covered by the update.
(b) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
on implementation of the program established under this section. Each 
such report shall include--
(1) a description of activities conducted under the 
program;
(2) an assessment of progress made in advancing shared 
national security interests;
(3) an assessment of the program's collaboration with other 
relevant Federal programs, including the United States-Israel 
operations-technology working group and United States-Israel 
cooperative programs run by the capability development and 
innovation division and the irregular warfare technical support 
directorate;
(4) a description of technologies transitioned into United 
States acquisition programs or fielded systems;
(5) a description of partnerships established with United 
States and Israeli industry; and
(6) recommendations for future priorities and assessment of 
resource needs, including further authorities necessary to 
promote the long-term integration of joint capabilities between 
the United States and Israel.
(c) Form.--Each report required under subsection (b) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
(d) Public Transparency.--The Secretary of Defense shall make 
available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Defense 
periodic, unclassified updates, to the maximum extent practicable, on 
activities conducted under the Initiative, including a description of 
how these activities contribute to American technological and military 
supremacy. Such updates shall be made in a manner that ensures that 
classified information or other information that would compromise 
operational security, export controls, or sensitive technology are not 
released.
(e) Congressional Defense Committees Defined.--In this Act, the 
term ``congressional defense committees'' means the Committees on 
Appropriations and Armed Services of the House of Representatives and 
of the Senate.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated $150,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to carry out this Act.
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