hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Blocks specific defense article sales to Israel.
Sen. Sanders (VT) and three co-sponsors (Van Hollen, Merkley, Welch).
In committee, no Senate vote yet.
This bill aims to prevent the proposed licensing of certain defense articles and services, including 5,000 Small Diameter Bomb Weapon Systems, from being sent to Israel. It was introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, along with Senators Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Peter Welch of Vermont. The bill has been introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations for review.
Introduced Mar 19, 2026
This joint resolution was introduced in the Senate on March 19, 2026. It was then read twice and officially sent to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. For the bill to move forward, the committee must consider and approve it before it can be put to a vote in the full Senate. If it passes the Senate, it would then need to pass the House of Representatives and be signed by the President to become law.
If this joint resolution passes, the most direct impact would be the prohibition of the licensing and transfer of 5,000 specific defense articles, particularly Small Diameter Bomb Weapon Systems, to Israel. This could lead to Israel seeking these or similar defense articles from other sources or adjusting its military strategies. More broadly, such a legislative action could signify a shift in the U.S. approach to providing military assistance and defense articles to its allies.
Supporters Say
Supporters would argue that blocking these arms sales is necessary for various reasons, potentially related to regional stability or human rights concerns.
Critics Say
Critics would likely argue that stopping these sales could undermine a key U.S. ally's security needs or broader foreign policy objectives.
Those in favor of this bill would likely point to concerns over the use of these specific weapons and their potential impact on ongoing conflicts, advocating for a reevaluation of defense support. Opponents, however, would likely emphasize the importance of maintaining strong defense ties with Israel, arguing that withholding such articles could weaken its security capabilities or send a negative signal about U.S. commitment to its allies.