I
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1218
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2023
Mr. Pfluger (for himself, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Ellzey, and Mr. Trone) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Air Force to provide training to members of the air force of Israel on the operation of KC–46 aircraft, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023
.
Training Israeli pilots to operate KC–46 aircraft
In general
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall—
make available sufficient resources and accommodations within the United States to train members of the air force of Israel on the operation of KC–46 aircraft; and
conduct training for members of the air force of Israel, including—
training for pilots and crew on the operation of the KC–46 aircraft in accordance with standards considered sufficient to conduct coalition operations of the United States Air Force and the air force of Israel; and
training for ground personnel on the maintenance and sustainment requirements of the KC–46 aircraft considered sufficient for such operations.
United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program
The Secretary of Defense shall, with respect to members of the air force of Israel associated with the operation of KC–46 aircraft—
before the completion of the training required by subsection (a)(2), authorize the participation of such members of the air force of Israel in the United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program;
make the United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program available to such members of the air force of Israel; and
to the extent practicable, ensure that such members of the air force of Israel may participate in the United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program immediately after such members complete such training.
Termination
This section shall cease to have effect on the date that is ten years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Forward deployment of United States KC–46 aircraft to Israel
Report
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that describes the capacity of and requirements for the United States Air Force to forward deploy KC–46 aircraft to Israel on a rotational basis until the date on which not fewer than four KC–46 aircraft procured by the military forces of Israel are commissioned into such military forces and achieve full combat capability.
Rotational forces
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense shall rotationally deploy one or more KC–46 aircraft to Israel until the earlier of—
the date on which a KC–46 aircraft procured by the military forces of Israel is commissioned into such military forces and achieves full combat capability; or
five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Description
The one or more KC–46 aircraft deployed under paragraph (1)—
may vary in size and number, as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate; and
beginning in the year that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and in each year thereafter until the applicable date described in that paragraph, shall remain in Israel for a period not less than 270 days.