Illinois Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez is seeking a House vote on legislation restricting certain U.S. arms transfers to Israel after raising the measure with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Ramirez discussed the proposal with Jeffries in recent talks and told Drop Site News, which reported the conversations Nov. 10, that she plans to speak with him again in the coming days. She said she “did not get a direct ‘no’” from him. Jeffries’s office did not respond to Drop Site’s request for comment.
H.R. 3565, called the Block the Bombs Act, has been introduced and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, according to the official bill record. It covers specified weapons, including BLU-109 bunker-busting bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition assemblies and 155mm artillery ammunition.
The bill would permit covered transfers only if a law sets the weapons’ permitted uses and Israel provides written assurances satisfactory to the president. The assurances must state that the weapons will be used for the purposes set by law and consistently with specified U.S. laws, international humanitarian and human rights law, and relevant bilateral agreements.
Ramirez said the Congressional Progressive Caucus and newly elected lawmakers would be central to building support for a vote. She also said she and caucus Chair Rep. Greg Casar had discussed strategy. Ramirez said she plans to continue talks with Jeffries in the coming days.
