# What This Bill Does

This bill would restrict the U.S. government's ability to send certain military weapons and ammunition to Israel. Specifically, it blocks the President from selling or transferring seven types of weapons—including bunker-busting bombs, various bomb variants, tank ammunition, and artillery shells—unless Congress passes a separate law first that spells out exactly what Israel can use these weapons for.

Right now, the President has broad authority to send military equipment to allied countries like Israel without needing approval for each individual shipment. This bill changes that for these specific weapons by adding a requirement that Congress must explicitly authorize each transfer and that Israel must provide written promises that it will use the weapons only for the approved purposes and in compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. In practical terms, this means if the President wants to send these weapons to Israel, they'd have to go back to Congress and get a new law passed first—a much higher bar than current practice.

The bill was introduced by a group of House members who are concerned about how these weapons might be used. The weapons listed are all offensive military equipment—bombs and ammunition designed for combat operations—rather than defensive systems. The requirement to follow international humanitarian law and human rights law suggests the sponsors want assurances that these weapons won't be used in ways that violate those standards.

For most Americans, this bill wouldn't directly affect daily life, but it represents a significant shift in how Congress would oversee military aid to Israel. It would give Congress more control over a specific category of weapons transfers that currently happen with less legislative oversight.

To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel.

Ramirez, Delia C.

This bill prohibits the President from selling, transferring, or exporting certain defense articles or services to Israel, except in specified circumstances.&nbsp;Defense articles covered by the prohibition include BLU-109 bunker busting bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) assemblies, and 155mm artillery ammunition. Defense services directly related to such articles are also covered.&nbsp;The President may sell, transfer, or export such defense articles or services to Israel if (1) a law is enacted specifying the purposes for which such articles or services may be used, and (2) Israel provides written assurances that the defense articles or services will be used for those specific statutory purposes and in a manner consistent with certain other laws, including international human rights laws.&nbsp;