hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Enhances US-Israel cooperation to counter unmanned systems, especially Iran-origin drones.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and 12 bipartisan cosponsors introduced it.
In committee, no House vote yet
This bill proposes to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. It aims to improve and expand cooperation between the United States and Israel in developing technologies to counter unmanned systems, specifically focusing on drones from Iran. The bill's lead sponsor is Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, joined by a bipartisan group of legislators. It has been introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs, meaning it needs committee approval before a full House vote.
Introduced Jan 21, 2026
This bill is currently in the 'Introduced' stage. This means it has been formally presented to the House of Representatives and assigned a bill number. It has been referred to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee for consideration. For it to advance, these committees would need to review it, potentially make changes, and then vote to send it to the full House for a vote. If passed by the House, it would then move to the Senate.
If this bill becomes law, the United States would significantly increase funding for cooperative programs with Israel to counter unmanned systems, specifically raising the authorized amount from $55 million to $100 million. This means more resources would be dedicated to developing and deploying technologies to protect against drone attacks. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense would be required to submit annual reports to Congress assessing the progress of this cooperation, the threat from Iran's drones, and the adequacy of current defenses. This increased oversight aims to enhance military readiness and improve defenses against drone threats.
Supporters Say
Proponents argue this bill is crucial for protecting U.S. forces and allies from growing drone threats posed by Iran and its proxies.
Critics Say
The bill text does not detail specific arguments against this legislation.
Supporters of this bill, as indicated by its 'Findings' section, emphasize the significant and growing threat from Iran-origin unmanned systems. They point to numerous incidents where these drones have been used against U.S. forces, Israel, and other allies, causing casualties and targeting critical infrastructure. The bill's proponents believe that enhancing U.S.-Israel cooperation is essential for addressing these common military requirements and ensuring security in the region. The bill text itself does not present arguments from critics or opposing viewpoints.