US House passes defense bill with significant funding for Israel

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the $895 billion “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025,” which includes hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for U.S.-Israel defense initiatives.

Key provisions in the bill allocate $500 million for U.S.-Israel missile-defense cooperation, $47.5 million for emerging technology collaboration, and $80 million for anti-tunneling measures.

One notable provision prohibits the U.S. Department of Defense from citing casualty statistics from Hamas-controlled sources, such as the Gaza Ministry of Health. The act specifies that public communications regarding casualties cannot use figures from entities designated as terrorist organizations, including Hamas.

This measure comes after controversy over casualty figures cited by U.S. officials. A 2023 investigation revealed discrepancies in Hamas-reported statistics, prompting the United Nations to revise its estimates of women and children killed in the Gaza conflict.

The 1,813-page bill also includes a 1% increase in overall U.S. defense spending, a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, and new restrictions on medical procedures under Tricare, the military healthcare program.

The bill passed with bipartisan support in a 281-140 vote. Eighty-one Democrats joined the majority of Republicans in approving the package, while 16 Republicans, including prominent conservatives, voted against it. Democratic leadership was divided, with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supporting the bill and Whip Katherine Clark opposing it.

The legislation now heads to the Senate for final approval. If passed, it will reaffirm the United States’ robust defense partnership with Israel while addressing broader national defense priorities.

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