The U.S. House of Representatives on May 16 voted 224-187 to approve legislation led by U.S. Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Tom Cole (R-OK), and Dave Joyce (R-OH) specifying that no federal funds may be used to withhold, halt, reverse, or cancel the delivery of defense articles or services to Israel.
The Israel Security Assistance Support Act, H.R. 8369, which Rep. Calvert sponsored on May 14 alongside 117 Republican original cosponsors, including Reps. Cole and Joyce, also states that no funds may be used to pay the salary of any employee in the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) or the U.S. Department of State who acts to limit defense deliveries to Israel, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“The passage of the Israel Security Assistance Support Act sends another strong message that the U.S. House of Representatives stands with our ally Israel in its mission to protect and defend its citizens,” Rep. Calvert said. “It’s both sad and frustrating that President Biden’s political decision to withhold aid to Israel is now forcing Congress to exert our constitutional power of the purse and demand the delivery of this security assistance following an overwhelming and bipartisan vote supporting Israel just a few weeks ago.”
If enacted, H.R. 8369 also would require DOD and the State Department to ensure prompt delivery of all defense articles and services expected to be delivered to Israel in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the summary says, and would require the departments to periodically report to Congress on defense articles and services provided to Israel.
“This is a moment of moral clarity,” said Rep. Cole, the bill’s lead original cosponsor. “You either stand with Israel and their right to self-defense against terrorists who wish our ally and America harm — or accept sending a dangerous message of weakness to our enemies. This bill demands accountability and supports freedom.”
Rep. Joyce pointed out that following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, the nation would not have taken direction from its allies on how to defend itself.
“As their ally, we must support Israel’s right to defend itself,” Rep. Joyce said. “This bill does exactly that by simply ensuring the administration provides the security assistance to Israel that was already approved by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress.”
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.