WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed key provisions authored by U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) to combat terror at home and abroad, to address the dangerous China-Iran alliance, and to support our key ally, Israel, among other critical measures.
The bipartisan legislation also includes Gottheimer’s bipartisan Anti-Killer Drone Act provisions to boost cooperation between the United States and Israel in developing technology to counter “killer drones” — often supplied by Iran — that threaten both American and Israeli national security.
These provisions passed the House as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“The House has passed a strong, bipartisan defense bill to help equip and prepare our service members to carry out their mission and defend our country. This bipartisan bill includes key provisions I introduced to help our great nation combat terror wherever it rears its ugly head, address the dangerous China-Iran alliance, and support our key ally Israel,” said Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the House Intelligence Committee. “I’ll continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our active-duty military, combat terrorism, and strengthen America’s national security.”
Gottheimer’s provisions passed by the House as part of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 include:
- Gottheimer’s Anti-Killer Drone Act provisions that require the Secretary of Defense to report on the status of U.S.-Israel cooperation on efforts to counter threats by Iranian killer drones.
- Expressing support for joint U.S.-Israel cooperation in the space arena between NASA and the Israel Space Agency, as well as between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and the Israeli Air Force in areas of research, development, test, and evaluation.
- Requiring the Secretary of Defense to include in their annual report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China information on the PRC’s dangerous relationship with Iran.
The bill passed also includes:
- A 5.2% pay raise for members of the military.
- Significant investments in military family housing, child development centers, and replacing barracks.
- Increases investments for military child care.
- Provisions strengthening transition from military to civilian life, including job training.
- Provisions strengthening support to Israel:
- Allows the transfer to Israel one or more retired United States aerial refueling tankers, or any other tanker considered appropriate.
- $15 million increased investment to counter Iranian drones.
- Strategies to address seaborne threats against our key ally Israel.
- Establishes a Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords and Negev Forum to strengthen existing agreements and encourage additional countries to normalize relations with Israel.
- Extends prohibition on inflight refueling support to any non-U.S. aircraft that are engaging in hostilities in Yemen.
- Continued commitment to stand with Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression.
- Provisions in support of Taiwan.
- Investments in energy resilience and energy conservation projects.
