S.jres25 - Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services. (119th Congress)
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 25 proposes congressional disapproval of a foreign military sale to Israel, specifically targeting the sale of 10,000 M107 and/or M795 155mm High Explosive projectiles, along with related support services and documentation. The resolution cites Transmittal No. 24-16, submitted to Congress under the Arms Export Control Act. Mr. Sanders introduced the resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The resolution aims to block the sale of specific defense articles and services to Israel. This action reflects a congressional effort to exert control over foreign military sales.
The resolution's impact would primarily affect the military capabilities of Israel and the relationship between the U.S. and Israel.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the resolution would prevent the sale of the specified defense articles and services to Israel. This could strain diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Israel. It may also require the U.S. to re-evaluate its foreign policy approach to the region.
The immediate effect would be the cancellation of the proposed sale outlined in Transmittal No. 24-16. Longer-term effects could include a reassessment of U.S. arms sales policies and their impact on international relations.
This could also lead to debates about the appropriate level of congressional oversight on foreign military sales.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially aligns U.S. foreign policy more closely with human rights concerns, if that is the motivation for disapproval.
- Could reduce the risk of escalation in regional conflicts by limiting the supply of weapons.
- May strengthen congressional oversight of foreign military sales, ensuring greater accountability.
- Could encourage Israel to seek alternative suppliers, potentially diversifying the arms market.
- May foster dialogue and negotiation between the U.S. and Israel regarding defense needs and regional security.
Potential Disadvantages
- Could strain diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Israel, potentially damaging a long-standing alliance.
- May weaken Israel's defense capabilities, increasing its vulnerability to external threats.
- Could send a negative signal to other U.S. allies, raising concerns about the reliability of U.S. security commitments.
- May embolden adversaries of Israel, potentially destabilizing the region.
- Could lead to a decrease in U.S. influence in the Middle East.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution is an exercise of Congress's power to legislate, as granted by Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution, which vests all legislative powers in Congress. Specifically, it relates to foreign policy, which is an area where both the executive and legislative branches share authority. The Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)(1)), mentioned in the resolution, provides the framework for congressional oversight of arms sales.
While the Constitution does not explicitly address foreign military sales, the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) and to declare war (Article I, Section 8, Clause 11) implicitly grant Congress a role in shaping foreign policy and national security. This resolution seeks to influence foreign policy through the disapproval of a specific arms sale.
The resolution does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or liberties. Its constitutionality hinges on the interpretation of the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in foreign policy matters.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).