A bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) are urging their colleagues to support the funding levels for Israeli missile defense authorized by the House of Representatives, rather than the Senate’s lower level of funding, The Hill reports.
The 36 senators include 19 Republicans and 17 Democrats, among them vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
The House version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes $600.7 million for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) and procurement of three U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs and more purchases of Iron Dome systems, while the Senate bill authorizes $280.8 million. Senators and House members are working to mesh the two versions.
{Andy Heller-Matzav.com}
