Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4335
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-22: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 19.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-27T16:20:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act," aims to strengthen U.S. security partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by providing expedited military assistance to countries that have normalized diplomatic relations with Israel and are actively cooperating on regional security efforts, particularly to counter threats from Iran and groups supported by Iran. The overarching goal is to protect U.S. interests, such as freedom of navigation, critical infrastructure, international law, and American citizens, through enhanced alliances.
Key Provisions
- U.S. Policy Statement: Establishes a U.S. commitment to collaborate with allies and partners in MENA to address threats from Iran and Iran-aligned entities (defined as groups controlled or funded by Iran, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other proxies advancing Iran's security objectives).
- Identification of Eligible Countries: The Secretary of State must identify countries that meet two criteria: (1) they have normalized diplomatic ties with Israel, and (2) they participate in regional security cooperation to combat Iran-related threats.
- Expedited Security Assistance: For these identified countries, the U.S. can approve sales, leases, exports, licenses, or transfers of defense articles (e.g., weapons or equipment) and services under the Arms Export Control Act (a law governing U.S. arms sales) or the Foreign Assistance Act (which covers excess defense articles). Approvals are expedited by requiring only a 15-day congressional notification (instead of longer standard periods), with certifications explaining how the assistance advances the stated policy and includes safeguards to prevent sensitive U.S. technology from reaching China or Russia.
- Ongoing Strategy Reports: The Secretary of State must submit a written strategy to key congressional committees (House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations) every 60 days after enactment. These reports cover:
- Overviews of threats from Iran and aligned groups to the U.S. and eligible countries.
- Metrics for evaluating cooperation, including recommendations for better multilateral efforts.
- Challenges to military interoperability (ability of forces to work together seamlessly) and steps to provide interim capabilities while deliveries are pending.
- Status of pending arms sales over $25 million from the past five years, delivery timelines, and process improvements.
Reports are unclassified but may include a classified section.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Shortened Notification Periods: Under the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act, standard congressional review times for arms deals (often 30 days or more) are reduced to 15 calendar days for eligible countries, speeding up approvals without eliminating oversight.
- Targeted Expedited Process: Introduces a new, policy-driven fast-track for arms transfers specifically tied to anti-Iran cooperation and normalization with Israel, which was not previously outlined in these laws.
- Enhanced Safeguards and Reporting: Adds requirements for certifications on technology protection against adversaries like China and Russia, and mandates regular strategy updates, which build on but expand existing reporting under arms control laws.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The State Department gains authority to prioritize and accelerate arms deals, potentially streamlining operations but increasing administrative workload for identifications, certifications, and biennial reports. Congress retains notification rights, ensuring continued oversight.
- On Citizens: U.S. citizens in MENA may benefit from reduced threats through stronger allied defenses, indirectly enhancing safety for Americans abroad or in related operations.
- On International Relations: Bolsters U.S. alliances under the Abraham Accords (peace agreements normalizing Israel-Arab ties), fostering a united front against Iran. It could strain relations with Iran and its proxies but promote stability in MENA by improving partners' capabilities. No direct impact on U.S. citizens domestically, though it may influence global trade in defense goods.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: State Department (leads implementation), Congress (receives reports and notifications), and defense agencies involved in arms exports.
- Eligible Countries: Primarily Abraham Accords signatories like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan (if they meet security criteria), gaining faster access to U.S. military aid to enhance their defenses.
- Israel: Indirectly supported through preserved "qualitative military edge" (ensuring Israel's superior military capabilities relative to neighbors) and regional cooperation.
- Adversaries: Iran and aligned groups (e.g., Hezbollah, Houthis) face heightened counter-threats from empowered U.S. partners.
- U.S. Defense Industry: Companies benefit from quicker approvals for sales and exports to these markets.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces existing arms export frameworks without overriding them, but the expedited process could raise questions about balancing speed with end-use monitoring to prevent misuse. The rule of construction explicitly protects Israel's qualitative military edge under current law, avoiding any dilution of U.S. commitments.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's constitutional role in foreign affairs and war powers by maintaining notification requirements, preventing executive overreach in arms deals.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan support for pro-Israel and anti-Iran policies (evident from diverse cosponsors across parties), potentially advancing U.S. strategic goals in MENA amid ongoing regional tensions. It signals a U.S. pivot toward coalition-building post-Abraham Accords, but may draw criticism for escalating arms flows in a volatile area.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Cosponsors (35)
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12], Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-22: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 19.
- 2025-07-22: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-07-10: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-07-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (7 pages)