Wilson and Norcross Introduce United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) introduced the bipartisan United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Gary Peters (D-MI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

     This bipartisan bill strengthens the U.S.-Israel security partnership by extending and expanding existing bilateral security initiatives. It also establishes new cooperative programs, including a broader initiative on unmanned systems, establishing a Defense Innovation Unit in Israel, and advocating for consideration of Israel’s inclusion in the National Technology Industrial Base (NTIB). Finally, it calls for greater cooperation between Israel and regional countries in advancing work on Integrated Air and Missile Defense.

Specifically, this bill takes several important measures:

• Establishes a U.S.-Israel cooperative program authorized at $150 million annually through FY30 to jointly research, develop, and deploy advanced technologies for countering unmanned systems that threaten the United States and Israel.
• Extends authorization for U.S.-Israel “Future of Warfare” emerging technologies cooperative program through FY30 at $50 million annually for further cooperation on technologies like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum, and automation.
• Reauthorizes U.S.-Israel cooperation in countering unmanned aerial systems and anti-tunneling through FY28 and increases both authorizations by $20 million each.
• Extends the War Reserve Stockpile Authority-Israel (WRSA-I) through January 1, 2029.
• Directs the Department of Defense to establish a Defense Innovation Unit office in Israel.
• Directs the Department of Defense to engage with Israel regarding the process of adding Israel to the National Technology Industrial Base (NTIB).

     “I’m grateful to introduce this critical legislation along with my bipartisan House and Senate colleagues,” said Congressman Joe Wilson upon introduction of the bill. “The U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 will ensure that the United States and Israel continue to work together to confront the most diverse and dangerous array of mutual threats we’ve ever faced. This important bill will expand and deepen the bilateral defense partnership between our two nations and scale up joint research and development of key emerging technologies, such as countering unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and quantum. It is imperative that the U.S. and Israel work together to meet and defeat emerging threats employed by state and non-state actors alike on the battlefield to protect American and Israeli families.”

     "The partnership between the United States and Israel is vital to maintaining Americans' safety," said Congressman Donald Norcross. "The United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act will build on this existing partnership by enhancing defense cooperation between our two countries. Together, we must invest in emerging technology and improve our defenses against tunneling, our missile defense systems, and our counter-drone capabilities."

     The text of this legislation (H.R. 1229) is available here. 

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