Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services.
- Bill Number
- H.J.Res. 85
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:05:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (H.J. Res. 85) aims to express congressional disapproval and prohibit a specific proposed sale of U.S. military equipment to Israel. It invokes Congress's authority to review and block certain arms exports under U.S. law, targeting munitions potentially used in ongoing conflicts.
Key Provisions
- Prohibited Sale Details: The resolution bans the export of the following items, as outlined in Transmittal No. 25-26 under the Arms Export Control Act (a law that regulates U.S. arms sales to foreign countries):
- 201 MK 83 MOD 4/MOD 5 General Purpose 1,000-pound bomb bodies (explosive devices designed for aerial delivery).
- 4,799 BLU-110A/B General Purpose 1,000-pound bomb bodies (similar explosive devices).
- 1,500 KMU-559C/B Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits (precision-guidance systems that convert unguided bombs into GPS-guided smart bombs for the MK 83).
- 3,500 KMU-559J/B JDAM guidance kits (similar precision-guidance kits for the MK 83).
- Congressional Action: If passed by both the House and Senate, this would override the executive branch's approval of the sale, preventing its completion.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This resolution does not amend the Arms Export Control Act itself but exercises its existing mechanism for congressional disapproval (Section 36(b)(1)), which allows Congress to veto proposed sales within 30 days of notification.
- It introduces no broad changes but specifically halts this one transaction, differing from routine approvals by the President and State Department for arms exports.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. State Department and Department of Defense would be required to cancel the sale if the resolution becomes law, potentially delaying or altering arms transfer processes and increasing congressional oversight of future exports.
- On Citizens: No direct impact on U.S. citizens, though it could influence public debates on U.S. foreign policy and military aid.
- On International Relations: Could strain U.S.-Israel military cooperation by limiting Israel's access to U.S.-made munitions, potentially affecting Israel's defense capabilities in regional conflicts (e.g., Gaza). It might also signal U.S. congressional concerns over arms use in humanitarian contexts, influencing alliances or negotiations with Middle Eastern partners.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Congress: Introduced by Representatives Rashida Tlaib and 14 co-sponsors (mostly progressive Democrats focused on human rights and foreign policy), highlighting internal divisions on U.S. support for Israel.
- Government of Israel: Primary recipient, which would lose access to these munitions, impacting its military readiness.
- U.S. Defense Industry: Companies like Boeing (producer of JDAM kits) could face lost revenue from the blocked sale.
- Advocacy Groups: Pro-Palestinian or human rights organizations may support it for restricting arms in conflict zones; pro-Israel groups may oppose it as undermining security aid.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on the constitutional separation of powers, where Congress checks executive foreign policy via the Arms Export Control Act. If enacted, it could be challenged in court over implementation but would legally bind the executive unless vetoed by the President (veto override requires two-thirds congressional support).
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's "power of the purse" (Article I) in regulating foreign commerce and war materials, balancing executive authority in arms sales.
- Political: Reflects partisan divides in Congress on U.S. aid to Israel amid the Israel-Hamas conflict; passage is unlikely without broader support but could pressure the Biden administration (or successor) on export policies. The referral to the House Foreign Affairs Committee suggests it may spark hearings on arms sales ethics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services. — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (2 pages)