Risch, Menendez, Rosen, Ernst, Booker, Lankford Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster the Abraham Accords, Regional Integration, and Negev Forum

"The Abraham Accords and related normalization agreements are fundamentally transforming the Middle East and have the potential to grow to Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and beyond. It is in the United States' interest to expand the circle of friends with Israel," said Ranking Member Risch. "Leadership matters. This legislation rightly creates a special envoy, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, charged with strengthening and expanding the Accords. We must not only grow the Accords, but also ensure these agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits. I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in quickly moving this legislation."

"This bill capitalizes on the dynamics that are profoundly reshaping the Middle East and North Africa," said Chairman Menendez. "A strong Israel, at peace with its neighbors, is squarely in U.S. national security interests. Today, the Abraham Accords show that normalizing relations with Israel brings tangible benefits in a host of areas, including deepening economic, security, political, and -- most importantly -- people-to-people ties. Further integration in this region, one marked by conflict and disunity, must be a pillar of U.S. foreign policy moving forward. It will remain a region that is critical to U.S. strategic interests, and we should support efforts that increase stability and prosperity for our partners and the region's citizens. I am proud to introduce this bill, and I believe that its passage will be a welcome sign of the broad, bipartisan support that normalization and regional integration enjoys in Congress."

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