Rep. Jim Turner, a Congressman from Texas and the Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, has introduced a bill, H.R. 3871, to support collaboration between United States and Israeli companies developing or providing anti-terrorist technology. The bill, officially titled "United States-Israel Homeland Security Foundation Act," would authorize a foundation to make grants to joint business ventures between American and Israeli private companies to develop products and services with applications related to homeland security.
The bill was introduced due to the recognition that Israeli companies have expertise in areas of critical interest to the Department of Homeland Security, including border integrity, transportation security, first responder equipment and civil defense planning. Working with Israeli companies in the development and implementation of technology is, therefore, seen as a crucial component of combating terrorism and implementing homeland security strategies.
Under the bill, in order to be eligible for a grant the applicant must:
- be a joint venture consisting of United States and Israeli private corporate entities;
- be in the process of developing a product or service determined by the Secretary to have applications related to homeland security; and
- demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary a capability to develop, manufacture, sell, and support the product or service.
Grants awarded would be limited to no more than 50 percent of the total proposed cost for the development, manufacture, and provision of the proposed product or service. The bill permits the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to require, when reasonable, that the grant be repaid up to 150% of the amount of the grant.
The foundation would be administered by an advisory board of public and private sector officials and would be funded by redirecting no less than $25 million from an existing fund for the research and development of homeland security technologies.
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 2, 2004 and has been assigned to the House Science Committee and the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Science, and Research and Development. It should be noted that the large majority of bills that are introduced never make it into law and this bill is in the very early stages of the legislative process.
Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP, WolfBlock Government Relations, DC, LLC, and the Commonwealth Group have formed a Homeland Security team. If you are interested in learning more about this legislation, please contact us.
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