The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): (H.R. 8800)

The NDAA is an annual piece of legislation enacted by Congress to authorize the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense (War) and for defense-related expenditures. It is considered a “must-pass” piece of legislation, and as such presents one of the best opportunities for advocates to influence America’s defense and foreign policy.

The sheer size and scope of the U.S. government’s defense spending and the fact that the bill must pass Congress make the NDAA one of the most important policy vehicles each year. AJP Action closely monitors the NDAA process and engages with our legislative champions to advocate for freedom and justice for the Palestinian people. The NDAA effectively always contains provisions supporting Israel’s occupation, apartheid, and genocide. As such, the importance of public advocacy fighting these provisions cannot be overstated. 

This year’s NDAA contains numerous provisions that continue and advance America’s support for the Israeli occupations in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, as well as for its apartheid regime, ongoing genocide in Gaza, and continued warmongering with Iran. It also contains several particularly concerning provisions that effectively begin merging the American and Israeli militaries.

AJP Action and our allies put forward and supported numerous amendments to the NDAA in the House to remove these harmful provisions. Unfortunately, these amendments were blocked by Republicans in the Rules Committee. As such, there is no opportunity to improve this bill before it comes to the floor of the House for a vote. Therefore, it is imperative that our Representatives VOTE NO on this year’s NDAA.

The National Security, State Department, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations bill: (H.R. 8595)

The NSRP Appropriations bill (formerly known as SFOPS) is one of the dozen or so annual budget bills that Congress must pass to fund the government. It includes funding for the Department of Defense (War), State Department, international aid (including military aid), and similar programs. This includes billions of dollars for Israel that it uses to advance its apartheid regime and campaign of occupation and genocide. As such, it is imperative that Congressmembers VOTE NO on the NSRP Appropriations bill.

Additionally, this year, Representatives in the House will have the opportunity to vote on Massie Amendment #5, submitted by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY). This amendment would prohibit any funds included in the Act from being used to support the Israeli government and its policies, and strips $3.3 billion in related funding from the bill. AJP Action strongly supports the Massie Amendment #5 to the NSRP, and recommends that all Representatives VOTE YES on this amendment. However, regardless of whether this amendment passes, Representatives should still VOTE NO on the overall bill.

The Iran War Supplemental:

The White House has officially submitted a request to Congress for $87.6 billion in supplemental appropriations (effectively extra funding) to cover costs incurred by the U.S. during the Iran War. This is notably only a fraction of what independent experts estimate that the United States either spent or lost during the conflict that the Israeli government somehow convinced President Trump to initiate. As such, this likely is only the first of several attempts by the Trump Administration to spend even more of our tax dollars on wars Americans don’t want, supporting an apartheid state that Americans want nothing to do with.