As House readies a vote on Israeli arms, Democrats whip members in opposition – Roll Call
House Republicans are preparing a vote this week on a bill that seeks to end President Joe Bidens flexibility on delivering weapons to Israel as Democrats marshal their members to remain united in opposition in the closely divided chamber.
The legislation, introduced late last week, could pass with only Republican votes, but the White House and House Democratic leadership are nevertheless working to minimize defections, seeking to paint the bill as unwarranted, poorly written, and a partisan power grab.
The House adopted a rule 212-200 Wednesday, setting the stage for floor action on the bill from Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., the leader of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, as early as Thursday or Friday. The rule allows no amendments.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., introduced a draft companionbill that his office says has 17 GOP co-sponsors. But that measure has little chance of making headway in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The House bill would place multiple binding provisions on the executive branch, including a prohibition on any U.S. fiscal 2024 or prior-year funds from being used to withhold or reverse the delivery of defense support forIsrael.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is whipping against the bill, Democratic staffers confirmed on background. They said Democratic leaders are characterizingthe measureas a MAGA bill and not a serious legislative effort.
The White House said Biden wouldveto the billin a statement of administration policy Tuesday because itinfringes on the presidents Article II constitutional powers as commander-in-chief and his power to conduct foreign relations.
The veto threat came around the same time TheWall Street Journal reportedthat the administration earlier in the day told lawmakers it was proceeding with a $1 billion arms package for Israel that would include tactical vehicles, tank ammunition, and mortar rounds. The package hasnt received final approval yet though. A Senate Democratic staffer on condition of anonymity confirmed the report.
But senior Republicans were undeterred.
At a time of rising global threats, antisemitism, and campus demonstrations around the U.S. that have empowered anti-Jewish aggression, we cant equivocate in our support or waver in our promise of Never Again, House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said in a Wednesday statement on the bill. We must deliver the critical assistance Israel needs.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilarpredicted at his Wednesday press conference that Democrats would overwhelmingly vote against the bill.
We believe in supporting our friends and allies in Israel. We also believe that the president sets foreign policy as well. And we understand that theres different viewpoints within our own caucus on this, the California Democrat said. But overwhelmingly, House Democrats will reject this overly political bill that did not come through committee.
Aguilar said the bill would fence off and defund the Department of Defense, the Department of State from efforts that they are undertaking.
The Democratic effort to whip votes is likely aimed at 26 House Democrats, or just over 12 percent of the caucus, who wrote National Security Advisor Jake Sullivanlast week to criticize the pause in the bomb shipment. That letter, however, sought only a briefing to better understand how and when the appropriated aid would be delivered.
The legislation would order the secretary of State to promptly approve and ensure delivery to Israel of all direct commercial sales of defense articles for which delivery is expected in fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025.
It would require the administration to deliver any paused weapons shipments within 15 days of bill enactment and would bar funding to the offices of the secretaries of State and Defense and to the National Security Council until those deliveries are made.
The latest blow-up over U.S.-Israel policy was sparked by the administrations pause this month ofshipment of large bombs on the grounds Israel would cause heavy loss of civilian lives using the munitions in the Gaza Strip. The pause was also aimed to causethe Israeli military to hold off from deepening its ground invasion of the city of Rafah, where some 1 million Palestinians are sheltering in unsafe conditions.
The bill is a misguided reaction to a deliberate distortion of the administrations approach to Israel, the statement of administration policy said. The president has been clear: we will always ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself. Our commitment to Israel is ironclad.
Republican leaders of the Senate and House foreign affairs panels chastised Biden Tuesday for a tendency to undermine the regular order associated with the non-statutory informal notification process for arms sales.
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Jim Risch, R-Idaho., in a letterto Biden,accused the administration of selectively classifying and declassifying information on certain arms transfers to Israel for political purposes. They said Congress still has not received formal notifications of either a Foreign Military Sale or a Direct Commercial Sale that fits the administrations descriptionof the paused shipment of 2,000- and 500-pound bombs to Israel.
We still dont have basic answers to questions about the weapons you have stopped from shipping, McCaul and Risch wrote. To date, we do not know how these weapons were financed, where they are, or by what authority you chose to do this.
Also Tuesday, the top Republicans on the Senate Appropriations and State-Foreign Operations panels sent a joint letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III that repeated much of Risch and McCauls criticisms.
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked the departments to respond in writing by May 20, ahead of Blinkens scheduled May 22 testimony before the State-Foreign Operations Appropriation Subcommittee, with details about the current location of the withheld shipment of high-payload bombs and the details of any other arms shipments the administration is considering withholding if Israel expands its invasion of Rafah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Wednesday interview with CNBC said his government would proceed with its campaign in Rafah despite the threats the Biden administration to hold back further shipments of offensive weapons if it does so. Netanyahu said the Israeli military could achieve its quest to eradicate the Palestinian militant group Hamas as a military threat without U.S. support.
Josh Paul, a former senior official in the State Departments Political-Military Affairs Bureau who resigned last fall in protest of U.S. policies around arming Israel, said the Calvert bill has problematic issues. He said it seems to require the U.S. to provide any type of weapon Israel wishes, regardless whether its a weapon that has traditionally not been shared, among them nuclear weapons and cluster munitions.
He also said the prohibition on paying the salaries of any Defense or State Department employee who takes action to curb weapons to Israel seems aimed at keeping the State DepartmentsDemocracy, Human Rights, and Labor Bureau, which is tasked with examining alleged gross human rights violations, from speaking up if it seessuch behavior using U.S. weapons from Israeli military units.
Essentially, youre handing control over foreign policy to Israels requests, Paul said in an interview.
Additionally, the legislations blanket requirement that all Israeli orders to U.S. defense manufacturers jump to the head of the queue is at odds with other aspects of U.S. defense policy that have sought to prioritize the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, key NATO allies, and Taiwan, he said.
Nina Heller and David Lerman contributed to this report.
The rest is here:
As House readies a vote on Israeli arms, Democrats whip members in opposition - Roll Call
- Democrats in South Carolina are barely pretending they're not already running for president - Politico - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Democrats 2024 Autopsy Is Described as Avoiding the Likeliest Cause of Death - The New York Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Scoop: Why Democrats didn't make Trump miss his deadline to cut $9 billion from PBS, NPR - Axios - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- How can Democrats win back working-class voters? Change their tune | Joan C Williams - The Guardian - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 'Dear God': Democrats storm out of vote on controversial Trump nominee - Fox News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- POLITICS: Door Open For Democrats To Win In City Of Celina Elections - Mercer County Outlook - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Weeks After a Heat Wave Baked the US, Democrats Push to Declare Heat a Major Disaster - Inside Climate News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Can Anything Save the Democrats? - The Wall Street Journal - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- President Says Epstein Critics Are Being Used by Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Mamdani charms national Democrats. But N.Y. Dems are just meh. - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trumps New Strategy on Epstein Fallout: Blame the Democrats - The New York Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Talking Trump accounts and mocking Democrats, Vance offers preview of how GOP will message the 'big, beautiful bill' - Politico - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Thank Fairfax County Democrats for your higher tax bill this year - Fairfax Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- E&E News: Youth fighting Trump on climate get boost from Democrats - POLITICO Pro - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats walk out of Emil Bove judicial confirmation hearing - CBS News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- John Fetterman's Approval Rating With Democrats Hits Record Low - Newsweek - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats risk taking the wrong lessons from Trumpism - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats Storm Out of Vote on Trumps Judicial Nominee, Emil Bove - The Daily Beast - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats and Republicans in Congress are working together to pass sanctions on Russia - 90.5 WESA - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats finally found an anti-Trump argument that works - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Cook County Democrats mostly sticking with incumbents on primary slate but Assessor Fritz Kaegi is in limbo - Chicago Sun-Times - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Democrats bill would require OSHA to issue worker heat protections - E&E News by POLITICO - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump tries to shift blame to Democrats for Epstein controversy - WGBH - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- WATCH: Democrats protest Bove nomination hearing with walkout before vote - NBC New York - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hungary opposition figures urge Democrats to organize against autocratic takeover by Trump - The Guardian - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election for not staying loyal to his father - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'The powerful protecting the powerful': Democrats see an opening on Epstein - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats demand Pam Bondi and Kash Patel be summoned for Epstein hearing - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- As Trump looks to net five GOP seats through Texas redistricting, Democrats grasp for response - The Texas Tribune - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats are trolling Trump and the GOP over the Jeffrey Epstein case - AP News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Broach Potential Walkout to Block Texas Redistricting - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Are Workshopping New Tactics After Losses of 2024 - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Mamdani Goes to Washington With Key Democrats in Congress Still on the Fence - THE CITY - NYC News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Hunter Biden says Democrats lost election because they werent loyal to his father - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats bash Trump over Texas redistricting: Act of desperation to cling to power - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats raked in money in the Michigan and Illinois Senate races - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- House Democrats are trying to force the Trump administration to release the Epstein files - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- I don't want to talk to MAGA voters, but Epstein gives Democrats an in on Trump | Opinion - USA Today - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Danbury Democrats formally back Alves for second term as mayor: 'We can't afford to sit back now' - NewsTimes - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Accuse Trump of Ceding Global Influence to China - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | Moderate Democrats cant save their party if they dont fight for it - The Washington Post - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats accuse Waltz of lying over Signalgate and berate him for not expressing regret - Politico - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Assaults on ICE officers surge 830% as Democrats caught 'doxing and physically assaulting' agents: DHS - Fox News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats find reasons for hope and fear six months into Trump 2.0 - The Hill - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom as the Democrats' nominee in 2028? What's not to like? - Daily Herald - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats must not abandon trans girls in sports - Bleeding Heartland - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Democrats pounce on Trump's blowup over Epstein - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Trump's White House accused Democrats of inciting violence against ICE but they have no receipts - MSNBC News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Megabill may not be a silver bullet for Democrats in the midterms - Politico - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. Theyre vying to replace the partys old guard - AP News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Takeaways from AP report on Democrats already lining up for the 2028 presidential race - CTPost - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Democrats urge town hall attendees to persevere, hope in face of Big Beautiful Bill - Maryland Matters - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Video: How the Democrats Lost on Transgender Issues - The New York Times - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Florida Democrats reveal what they saw inside Alligator Alcatraz on tour - Scripps News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Why NC Democrats think 2026 midterms will run through Rocky Mount - WRAL.com - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- No, Democrats Arent Controlling the Weather. Neither Is Anyone Else. - Mother Jones - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- As Democrats spoil for a fight, a new face in the House is leading them on oversight - NPR - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. Theyre vying to replace the partys old guard - The Boston Globe - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Young Democrats have called for a rebrand. They're vying to replace the party's old guard - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats push back on trio of Trump-backed crypto bills with Corruption Week blitz - dlnews.com - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Utah Democrats work to make sure their voices are heard at the national level - FOX 13 News Utah - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Contributor: Will Democrats find an anti-Trump to galvanize the left? - Los Angeles Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats have blue dot dreams in Nebraska - Politico - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats Should Prepare for the Return of Debt Politics - Washington Monthly - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Democrats Must Find Their Nerve And Fast - The National Herald - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Opinion | This Trial of the Century Is 100. Its Lessons Could Save the Democrats. - The New York Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Inspire Vicious, Escalating Attacks on ICE - The White House (.gov) - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- John Kerry says 'Trump was right', Democrats allowed migrant 'siege' of border - BBC - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- New Survey Results: RI Democrats and Republicans are living in different realities - Salve Regina University - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- DNC chair on the path to winning back voters and lessons Democrats can learn from Mamdani - PBS - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Top House Democrats demand release of Epstein files that mention Trump - The Guardian - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Jeffriess speech is proof that Democrats are just performative and reactionary - The Hill - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Mamdani's far-left allies aim to primary Hakeem Jeffries and other NYC House Democrats - Fox News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Michigan Democrats begin highlighting constituents impacted by Medicaid cuts in Trump tax bill - Michigan Advance - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom swings through South Carolina, where Democrats will play pivotal 2028 nominating role - AP News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Ignored What Their Voters Were Telling ThemAnd It Cost Them Everything - Vanity Fair - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Republicans and Democrats Finally Agree on Nuclear. Its the Industry Thats the Problem. - Politico - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Hawley rebukes Democrats' heated rhetoric after attacks on ICE, border patrol facilities: 'Knock it off' - Fox News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Gender Gap That Ate the Democrats - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Letter: Why Democrats are losing ground with minority voters - Reading Eagle - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]