Upgrading U.S.-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation

Congressman Kirk led the bipartisan effort to secure “Eyes in the Sky,” real-time satellite early-warning data, for the State of Israel.  With access to “Eyes in the Sky,” Israel’s warning time of an Iranian missile launch grew from less than one minute to a full 11 minutes.

In 2008, Kirk led a bipartisan effort to deploy the X-Band AN/TPY-2 radar system to Israel.  The radar, America’s most advanced system, doubledIsrael’s intercept range – giving the Jewish state at least two engagement windows to bring down an Iranian salvo.

Earlier last year, Kirk helped reverse the Administration’s cuts to Israel’s Arrow-3 upper tier missile defense system – securing full funding for the program to continue.

The Leader on Stopping Iran’s Nuclear Program

In 2005, Congressman Kirk became the first member of Congress to propose a gasoline restriction as the most effective way to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.  In 2005 and 2006, Kirk introduced bipartisan resolutions calling for an international gasoline restriction.  In 2007, he authored the Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act to extend current U.S. sanctions to the provision of gasoline.

Last year, Congressman Kirk authored the Iran Diplomatic Enhancement Act, expanding economic sanctions against Iran to include refined petroleum producers, suppliers, carriers and insurers.  This legislation as incorporated into Chairman Berman’s Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act.  Kirk is also the lead cosponsor of the Frank-Kirk Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009, which would authorize state and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran’s energy sector.

In 2009, the House passed two key Iran-related Kirk amendments: one prohibiting Export-Import Bank financing of projects controlled by companies providing gasoline to Iran, and another requiring the Securities and Exchange Commission to publicly disclose business dealings with or in Iran conducted by U.S.-listed companies.

Keeping Taxpayer Money Away from Hamas and Hezbollah

Congressman Kirk authored appropriations language mandating a first-ever comprehensive review by the Government Accountability Office of Cash Assistance and Emergency Cash Assistance programs run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Kirk also ordered an Inspector General investigation into reports that more than $140,000 was provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development to the Hamas-controlled Islamic University in Gaza.  He later authored appropriations language tightening anti-terror vetting language to include institutions that have terrorist trustees—thereby closing the funding loophole to Islamic University.

Did You Know – Preventing U.S. Assistance to Hamas

Did You Know – Disarming Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon

Did You Know – Combating Global Anti-Semitism and Holocaust Denial