The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed on Wednesday a bipartisan resolution – among four bipartisan measures on the agenda – which recognizes the importance of the United States-Israel economic relationship and encourages new areas of cooperation.

The resolution (H. Res. 551), introduced by Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), encourages the Obama Administration to regularize and expand existing forums of economic dialogue with Israel and foster both public and private sector participation. It also expresses support for the Administration to explore new agreements with Israel, including in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, medicine, neurotechnology and cybersecurity.

“This bipartisan measure emphasizes the strong history of economic cooperation between the U.S. and Israel, and encourages us to build on our shared entrepreneurial spirit,” the committee’s chairman, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), said in a statement. “Despite Israel’s security threats, Tel Aviv is a bustling city of dot-coms, biotechs and mobile companies. We can learn much from each other and as a Member from the drought-stricken state of California, I see great promise in a partnership with Israel that explores ways to conserve and desalinate water.”

The Committee also passed H. Res. 148, introduced by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), which calls on Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance in the case of Jewish-American Robert Levinson, who went missing in Iran nine years ago. “With many unanswered questions about his location and current well-being, we must continue to press the Obama administration to do more. As Bob’s son testified, ‘No family should ever have to go through what we all are going through,'” said Royce.