Federal

Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 851 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill requires the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force to train Israeli air force members on how to operate KC-46 aircraft (a military refueling plane). The bill also requires the Secretary of Defense to send KC-46 aircraft to Israel temporarily and report on the possibility of doing this on a rotating basis.

Who It Affects

The Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of Defense, members of the Israeli air force, the U.S. Air Force, and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Key Provisions

• Within 60 days of the bill becoming law, the Secretary of the Air Force must provide enough resources and space within the United States to train Israeli air force members on KC-46 aircraft operation (Sec. 2(a)). • The training must include pilots and crew on how to operate the KC-46 aircraft, and ground personnel on how to maintain and keep the aircraft working properly (Sec. 2(a)(2)). • The Secretary of Defense must allow Israeli air force members involved with KC-46 aircraft to participate in the United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program (a program where military members work together) before and after their training (Sec. 2(b)). • The Secretary of Defense must submit a report within 60 days describing whether and how the U.S. Air Force can send KC-46 aircraft to Israel on a rotating basis (Sec. 3(a)). • The Secretary of Defense must send one or more KC-46 aircraft to Israel for at least 270 days each year, starting one year after the bill becomes law, until either an Israeli-owned KC-46 aircraft becomes fully operational or five years have passed (Sec. 3(b)).

What Changes

If this becomes law, the U.S. military will be required to train Israeli air force members on KC-46 aircraft operations. Additionally, the U.S. will deploy KC-46 aircraft to Israel temporarily on a yearly basis, with these aircraft staying for at least 270 days per year.

Important Definitions

KC-46 aircraft: A military aircraft used for refueling other planes in flight. Full combat capability: When an aircraft is ready for military operations. Not specified in bill text: The bill does not define other key terms.

Effective Date

The bill becomes effective upon enactment (the date the President signs it into law). Not specified in bill text: The specific date when this will occur. The training requirements must begin within 60 days of enactment.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1218 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. 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expediting Israeli Aer- 4 ial Refueling Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:18 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1218.IH H1218 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1218 IH SEC. 2. TRAINING ISRAELI PILOTS TO OPERATE KC–46 AIR- 1 CRAFT. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 3 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 4 Air Force shall— 5 (1) make available sufficient resources and ac- 6 commodations within the United States to train 7 members of the air force of Israel on the operation 8 of KC–46 aircraft; and 9 (2) conduct training for members of the air 10 force of Israel, including— 11 (A) training for pilots and crew on the op- 12 eration of the KC–46 aircraft in accordance 13 with standards considered sufficient to conduct 14 coalition operations of the United States Air 15 Force and the air force of Israel; and 16 (B) training for ground personnel on the 17 maintenance and sustainment requirements of 18 the KC–46 aircraft considered sufficient for 19 such operations. 20 (b) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE MILITARY PER- 21 SONNEL EXCHANGE PROGRAM.—The Secretary of De- 22 fense shall, with respect to members of the air force of 23 Israel associated with the operation of KC–46 aircraft— 24 (1) before the completion of the training re- 25 quired by subsection (a)(2), authorize the participa- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:18 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1218.IH H1218 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1218 IH tion of such members of the air force of Israel in the 1 United States Air Force Military Personnel Ex- 2 change Program; 3 (2) make the United States Air Force Military 4 Personnel Exchange Program available to such 5 members of the air force of Israel; and 6 (3) to the extent practicable, ensure that such 7 members of the air force of Israel may participate 8 in the United States Air Force Military Personnel 9 Exchange Program immediately after such members 10 complete such training. 11 (c) TERMINATION.—This section shall cease to have 12 effect on the date that is ten years after the date of the 13 enactment of this Act. 14 SEC. 3. FORWARD DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES KC–46 15 AIRCRAFT TO ISRAEL. 16 (a) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 17 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 18 shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 19 Senate and the House of Representatives a report that 20 describes the capacity of and requirements for the United 21 States Air Force to forward deploy KC–46 aircraft to 22 Israel on a rotational basis until the date on which not 23 fewer than four KC–46 aircraft procured by the military 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:18 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1218.IH H1218 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 1218 IH forces of Israel are commissioned into such military forces 1 and achieve full combat capability. 2 (b) ROTATIONAL FORCES.— 3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 4 the Secretary of Defense shall rotationally deploy 5 one or more KC–46 aircraft to Israel until the ear- 6 lier of— 7 (A) the date on which a KC–46 aircraft 8 procured by the military forces of Israel is com- 9 missioned into such military forces and achieves 10 full combat capability; or 11 (B) five years after the date of the enact- 12 ment of this Act. 13 (2) DESCRIPTION.—The one or more KC–46 14 aircraft deployed under paragraph (1)— 15 (A) may vary in size and number, as the 16 Secretary of Defense considers appropriate; and 17 (B) beginning in the year that is one year 18 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 19 in each year thereafter until the applicable date 20 described in that paragraph, shall remain in 21 Israel for a period not less than 270 days. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:18 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1218.IH H1218 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.