Just six Democrats voted to back defense bill which expands military technology cooperation with Israel.By World Israel News StaffThe House of Representatives narrowly approved a $1.15 trillion defense policy bill Wednesday that would significantly expand US-Israel weapons-development cooperation and provide $750 million for joint missile defense, counter-drone, subterranean warfare and emerging-technology programs.The fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act passed 216-212, an unusually partisan result for legislation that has traditionally attracted broad support from both parties.A total of 209 Republicans, six Democrats and one independent supported the measure. Seven Republicans and 205 Democrats voted against it, while three lawmakers did not vote.The NDAA authorizes defense programs and establishes military policy but does not itself provide the money. Congress would still have to approve separate appropriations legislation before much of the authorized spending could be released.At the center of the debate over Israel was Section 219, which would establish a US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative inside the Pentagon.The provision directs the defense secretary to appoint an “executive agent” responsible for coordinating and accelerating bilateral research, development, testing, evaluation and industrial cooperation.The official would identify jointly developed and Israeli-origin technologies that could be incorporated into US weapons programs, help move technology from research into procurement and promote joint ventures, licensing agreements and US-based manufacturing partnerships with Israeli companies.Areas covered by the initiative include counter-drone systems, anti-tunnel technology, missile and air defense, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomous weapons, directed-energy systems, advanced sensors, cybersecurity, electronic warfare, biotechnology and military logistics.Supporters said the measure would organize existing cooperation more efficiently and give American forces faster access to technologies developed by Israel through years of combat experience.“Our national security depends on a ready, capable, and well-equipped fighting force,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said after the vote.AIPAC welcomed the provision as a step that would “help keep America safe and bolster our strategic capabilities.”The organization said the initiative would give American troops an advantage in the technologies expected to shape future warfare while supporting US manufacturing and defense-sector employment.Opponents from both parties argued that Section 219 would institutionalize the military partnership too deeply inside the Pentagon and make it more difficult for future presidents or Congresses to reduce cooperation with Israel.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the provision as “an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy” and claimed it would “merge parts of our military with the Israel Defense Forces.”Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who has repeatedly opposed military assistance to Israel, said after the vote that Section 219 was a “betrayal of our sovereignty.”The House did not allow a floor vote on a Massie-backed proposal to remove Section 219 altogether.Lawmakers did approve two amendments from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican. One removed four uses of the word “integration” from the provision, while the second extended reporting requirements for as long as the Pentagon’s executive agent remains in place. The original language would have ended the reports in 2030.Luna nevertheless voted against the full defense bill.Beyond Section 219, the NDAA authorizes $750 million for cooperative US-Israel defense programs, $65 million more than the previous year.The largest portion is $500 million for missile-defense development and production. That includes $300 million for Israeli cooperative missile-defense programs, $150 million for the Arrow 3 upper-tier interceptor, $30 million for short-range ballistic missile defense and $20 million for Iron Dome.The allocations reflect a growing focus on defenses against Iranian ballistic missiles. Arrow 3 funding would rise from $100 million in fiscal 2026, while Iron Dome funding would fall from $60 million.Arrow 3 is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles outside or near the edge of the atmosphere. Iron Dome primarily targets shorter-range rockets and drones.The bill would also provide $100 million for US-Israel counter-unmanned-systems cooperation, $100 million for subterranean warfare research and $50 million for emerging technologies.It would extend the legal authority for joint anti-tunnel and counter-unmanned-system research through the end of 2029. The counter-drone program would cover aerial, maritime and ground-based unmanned systems rather than focusing exclusively on aircraft.Another provision would extend the War Reserve Stockpile Authority for Israel until January 1, 2029. The program allows the Pentagon to store American-owned weapons and equipment in Israel, with transfers to the Israeli military possible under US law and with Washington’s approval.The Israel provisions were approved as Democratic support for military assistance to the country has weakened substantially. In a separate recent vote, 103 House Democrats supported an unsuccessful attempt to eliminate $3.3 billion in annual aid to Israel.Democratic opposition to the NDAA also extended well beyond Israel.Ranking Democrat Adam Smith praised parts of the committee’s original legislation but said, “The problem is the $1.6 trillion price tag,” referring to the administration’s broader military spending plans when separate war and weapons packages are included.Democrats also objected to President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, which the Pentagon says has already cost $37.5 billion, and argued that continued military funding could amount to congressional acceptance of a conflict launched without specific authorization.Republicans said the defense increase was necessary to rebuild weapons stockpiles, expand the defense industrial base, strengthen deterrence against China and support US forces engaged in active operations.The legislation includes military pay increases ranging from 5% to 7%, depending on rank, and additional spending on barracks, family housing, shipbuilding, missile defense and weapons production.It would also formally rename the Department of Defense the Department of War and incorporate elements of Trump’s SAVE America Act, an election measure requiring stricter voter identification rules. Attaching the voting provisions is expected to make passage more difficult in the Senate.The Senate has not yet passed its version of the NDAA. Senate Democrats blocked debate on that measure last week, and the two chambers would eventually have to negotiate a unified bill before it could be sent to Trump.The post House passes $1.15 trillion defense bill expanding cooperation with Israel appeared first on World Israel News.