House passes $1B Iron Dome supplemental in lopsided vote

The House voted 420-9 today to pass a $1 billion supplemental funding bill that would replenish Israel’s Iron Dome rocket defense system.

House Democrats had initially included the funding in a stopgap continuing resolution introduced earlier this week, but a small group of progressive lawmakers objected to it and the money was stripped from the CR.

Senior Democrats then decided to pass the funding as a standalone supplemental measure.

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released a statement saying the funds would replace missile interceptors that were used to protect Israeli civilians from Hamas rockets during heavy fighting in May.

“The United States has long been committed to the objective of a two-state-solution: Israelis and Palestinians living side-by-side in a lasting peace,” she said. “The legislation ensures that Israel can fully defend all its citizens and, coupled with the funding provided in the 2022 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill for the humanitarian and development needs of the Palestinian people, furthers the cause of peace. This bill demonstrates that Congress’ commitment to our friend and ally Israel is bipartisan and ironclad. It fulfills our moral imperative to protect the lives of innocent civilians and helps build the foundations for peace.”

Only eight Democrats and one Republican voted “no" on the bill, while two Democrats voted “present.”