Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves U.S.-Israel Legislation; Resolutions, Ambassadorial Nominations

Washington, DC – At a business meeting led by Chairman John Kerry this afternoon, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved S. 2165, the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, legislation sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 62 Senators.  The bill reinforces the strong security bonds between the United States and Israel and underscores the need for continuing security cooperation.

The Committee also approved the following legislation, resolutions, and nominations en bloc by voice vote:

• S. 641, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2011
• H.R. 4240, the Ambassador James R. Lilley and Congressman Stephen J. Solarz North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2012
• S. Res. 402, A resolution condemning Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army for committing crimes against humanity and mass atrocities, and supporting ongoing efforts by the United States Government and governments in central Africa to remove Joseph Kony and Lord’s Resistance Army commanders from the battlefield, with amendments
• S. Res. 429, A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of World Malaria Day
• S. Res. 473, A resolution commending Rotary International and others for their efforts to prevent and eradicate polio
• S. Res. 385, A resolution condemning the Government of Iran for its continued persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing of Youcef Nadarkhani on the charge of apostasy, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute
• Ms. Piper Anne Wind Campbell, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to Mongolia
• The Honorable Peter William Bodde, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
• Ms. Dorothea-Maria Rosen, of California, to be Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia
• Mr. Edward M. Alford, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia
• Mr. Mark L. Asquino, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea
• Mr. Douglas M. Griffiths, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique
• The Honorable Michele Jeanne Sison, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and to serve concurrently as Ambassador to the   Republic of Maldives
• Ms. Susan Marsh Elliott, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan
• The Honorable Richard L. Morningstar, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Mr. Timothy M. Broas, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Mr. Jay Nicholas Anania, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname

During today’s business meeting, S. 1039, the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2011 was held over at the request of a Committee member.  Chairman Kerry announced that the next business meeting would be held on Tuesday, June 26, at which time he plans to take up the Magnitsky legislation.

*Please send any inquiries to jodi_seth@kerry.senate.gov *