Heinrich, Luján Support Amendment to Maintain Congressional Oversight on Foreign Military Assistance

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.)joined U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in announcing an amendment to maintain the congressional notification requirement for all U.S. assistance to foreign militaries. Specifically, the amendment would strike a provision in the proposed national security supplemental funding bill that waives oversight requirements for U.S. funding for Israel under the Foreign Military Financing Program. If passed, the amendment would preserve the congressional notification process for Israel, just as congressional notifications are required for all other nations.

"Congressional review of significant U.S. arms transfers—even to our closest allies—is essential to ensuring that American military aid is used only in accordance with U.S. law, international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict,” said Heinrich. “I am joining Senator Kaine's amendment to bring needed transparency for the American people on how Israel is deploying U.S. aid in Gaza. I join my colleagues in continuing to insist that the enemy in Gaza is Hamas - not children, not Palestinian civilians."

“Congress has a clear role in providing oversight of foreign military assistance, and it’s critical that the legislative branch is notified and reviews all arms transfers to countries receiving U.S. aid,” said Luján. “All countries must be held to the same standard of Congressional notifications – even our allies. Congress and the American people deserve transparency which is why I am joining Senator Kaine to maintain the Congressional notification process.”

“The Administration’s supplemental request proposes to lift congressional notice requirements regarding arms sales to Israel while leaving the notice mandate in place for arms transfers to other nations. I have strongly supported U.S. aid necessary for Israel’s defense, but all nations should be subject to the same standard. I’m filing an amendment to maintain the congressional notification requirement for all U.S. foreign military assistance because Congress and the American taxpayer deserve to know when U.S. arms are transferred to any nation,” said Kaine.

In addition to Heinrich, Luján, and Kaine, the amendment is sponsored by Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).  

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