H.R. 1229 · 119th Congress

Expands U.S.-Israel military cooperation on counter-drone and emerging technology

Official title: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 20251

Never got a floor voteMilitary aid to Israel

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would require the Defense Department to create a joint program with Israel's Ministry of Defense to develop and deploy technology for countering drones and other unmanned systems that threaten both countries, and to open an office of its Defense Innovation Unit, which helps the military adopt commercial technology quickly, in Israel.2,3 It would also authorize joint research, development and testing with Israel on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, and direct the Pentagon to discuss with Israel adding it to the U.S. national technology and industrial base, which federal law now defines as covering defense research and production in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.3 The bill would extend joint U.S.-Israel work on anti-tunnel and counter-drone capabilities through 2028, and the authority to transfer U.S. defense items stockpiled as reserves for Israel through January 1, 2029.3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, February 12, 2025: 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.1
IntroducedFebruary 12, 2025
SponsorRep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
Cosponsors178 cosponsors (89 Democratic, 89 Republican)
Official recordH.R. 1229 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, February 12, 2025: 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.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (154)