Support grows for US Block the Bombs Act as co-sponsors reach 73

Support for the Block the Bombs Act has grown to 73 co-sponsors in the US House of Representatives, according to advocates who gathered at a Capitol Hill news conference on Thursday. The measure would impose a partial embargo on sending weapons from the United States to Israel. Its backers say the latest tally shows the proposal has moved from the margins toward the political mainstream, even though it remains far short of the 218 votes needed for a House majority.

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Congresswoman Delia Ramirez first announced the bill in June 2025, when it had 21 Democratic supporters. At the time, the proposal drew criticism from some lawmakers who viewed it as too far-reaching. Ramirez said on Thursday that what some had once called extreme had become more widely accepted, and she urged House leaders to allow a floor vote.

The bill is still blocked by Republican leadership in the House, according to the advocates who spoke at the event. The latest co-sponsor count is being presented by supporters as a significant shift in congressional debate over US military assistance to Israel. Margaret DeReus, executive director of the Institute for Middle East Understanding, said the increase should be seen as progress, while also stressing that there is still a long way to go.

The bill's supporters argue that lawmakers should better reflect changing public opinion, and they point to polling that they say shows declining support for unconditional weapons transfers. The issue matters because US arms policy toward Israel has long enjoyed broad bipartisan backing in Congress. A proposal that now has 73 co-sponsors still does not approach a majority in the 435-member House, but it does indicate a larger bloc willing to question that consensus.

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That makes the bill a test of how far criticism of Israel's military conduct can move inside Washington, and whether that shift can translate into formal legislative action. The debate comes against the backdrop of multiple Israeli military campaigns across the Middle East, which Ramirez cited in calling for a vote. She also referred to the war in Iran, Israel's invasion of Lebanon and the continuing death toll in Gaza.

Those conflicts have intensified scrutiny of US support for Israel and have given added weight to efforts in Congress to place conditions on weapons transfers. Supporters of the bill say the political environment has changed since its introduction. They argue that the growth from 21 backers to 73 reflects a broader reassessment among some lawmakers, even if the measure remains well short of passage.

The advocates at Thursday's event framed the tally as evidence that a once-fringe position has gained traction, particularly among members responding to pressure from constituents and rights groups. At the same time, the legislative path remains uncertain. The House leadership has not brought the measure to a vote, and there is no indication from the supplied material that the bill has enough support to pass if it were called.

What remains unclear is whether the current momentum will continue, whether more lawmakers will sign on, and whether the proposal can move from a symbolic marker of dissent to a binding change in US policy.

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