III
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 445
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 2, 2023
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Young, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Budd, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Braun, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Warnock) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance
December 6, 2023
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of the economic relationship between the United States and Israel and affirming that trade facilitated by the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement is a tool to support the economy of Israel during the conflict with Hamas.
Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched violent and deadly attacks on Israel by air, land, and sea;
Whereas the United States and Israel have a longstanding economic and security relationship;
Whereas the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement was signed into law in June 1985 and was the first free trade agreement entered into by the United States;
Whereas, since the signing of the Agreement, total trade between the United States and Israel has grown more than sevenfold;
Whereas the United States is Israel’s single largest trading partner;
Whereas the United States exported $14,200,000,000 in goods and $5,800,000,000 in services to Israel in 2022;
Whereas the United States imported $21,400,000,000 in goods and $9,200,000,000 in services from Israel in 2022;
Whereas the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement also underpins the robust exchange of capital between the United States and Israel;
Whereas Israeli companies directly invested $10,600,000,000 in the United States during 2022, supporting more than 20,000 United States jobs; and
Whereas, following Hamas’s atrocious attacks on Israel, maintaining and expanding trade and investment between the United States and Israel is paramount: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
recognizes that the economic relationship between the United States and Israel is strong and has benefitted both countries and the peoples of both countries;
expresses support for the people of Israel and the economy of Israel in the face of Hamas's attacks against Israel; and
affirms that—
the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement set the stage for robust growth in trade and investment between the United States and Israel; and
the Agreement can similarly serve as a tool for supporting the economy of Israel during the conflict with Hamas.