ByMATHILDA HELLER
Updated:

The US House of Representatives will vote today on an amendment to block taxpayer funding to Israel’s military.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) submitted Amendment #5 (Revised) to H.R. 8595 – National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027.

The amendment would prohibit any funds in the bill from being used for Israel, and would cut $3.3 billion from the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) account.

The $3.3 billion in annual military aid for Israel is just a small part of a 10-year, $38 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2016, which is set to expire in 2028.

The amendment would not affect the $500 million Israel receives annually for missile defense systems such as Iron Dome.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, October 9, 2023.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, October 9, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

On June 23, the House Rules Committee marked the amendment as “Made in Order,” meaning it was approved to receive floor consideration and a vote. The debate time is set at 10 minutes.

US House Reps discuss the vote

Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) confirmed he would be voting “Yes” to the amendment, writing on X/Twitter that “the Israeli government committed war crimes in Gaza and helped drag America into war with Iran. Americans should not be financing more weapons for Netanyahu.”

Casar said he was aware that the amendment as written could cut off both military weapons (~$3.3 billion) and some diplomatic funding (~$50 million).

“While I would prefer to vote on an amendment that stripped just military funding, I think opposing the billions in military funding is what’s most important here,” he added.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) confirmed that she would vote in favor, saying, “It should be a no-brainer: Our tax dollars should not fund a genocide.”

“We cannot continue to be complicit in Israel’s crimes against humanity,” she said.

Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also told the Drop Site news outlet that she would vote “Yes.”

The Arab America Institute has called on the public to contact their representatives and ask that they vote in favor of the amendment.

Both Rep. Greg W. Meeks (D-NY) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) said they will oppose the amendment.