United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill aims to strengthen military cooperation between the United States and Israel by requiring the Department of Defense to establish joint programs in three main areas: (1) developing technology to counter unmanned systems like drones that threaten both countries, (2) opening an office in Israel for the Defense Innovation Unit (a U.S. military organization that adopts commercial technology for military use), and (3) exploring whether Israel should be included in the U.S. national technology and industrial base—a group of allied countries and companies currently limited to the U.S., UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects the U.S.
Department of Defense and Israel's Ministry of Defense, along with defense contractors and technology companies that work with these agencies. It could also impact broader U.S. foreign policy regarding military partnerships. **Current Status:** The bill (HR 1229) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025This bill requires or authorizes certain actions to increase defense-related cooperation between the United States and Israel.Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) toestablish a cooperative program, with the concurrence of Israel's Ministry of Defense (MOD), to develop and deploy advanced technologies for countering unmanned systems that threaten the United States and Israel;establish in Israel an office of the Defense Innovation Unit (an organization that focuses on rapidly fielding and scaling commercial technology across the U.S. military); andseek to engage Israel's MOD on the ascension of Israel into the national technology and industrial base (currently defined in law as the persons and organizations engaged in research, development, production, integration, services, or information technology activities conducted within the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada).The bill authorizes DOD, upon request of Israel's MOD, to jointly conduct research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics to meet defense challenges.Additionally, the bill extends the authority for DOD to (1) carry out RDT&E on a joint basis with Israel to establish anti-tunnel and counter unmanned aerial systems capabilities through 2028, and (2) transfer defense articles intended for use as reserve stocks for Israel through January 1, 2029.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.