08/25/2026
Below is what Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth wrote to our cofounder about the Congresswoman's work on antisemitism. We hope you too will be in touch with her office on important issues!
July 30, 2026
Dear Ms. Mizrahi,
Thank you for contacting me to share your perspective regarding Section 219 (formerly Section 224) of H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). As your Representative in Congress, I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important matter. Your engagement in the legislative process is vital for guiding national policy and my ability to effectively represent Maryland’s Third Congressional District. You can be assured that your views are always considered in the challenging decisions I make on Capitol Hill.
As you may know, the NDAA is the annual law that authorizes funding levels and establishes policies for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons programs, and other national security activities. While it does not actually appropriate federal funds, it sets Congress's priorities for defense by authorizing programs, establishing military and national security policies, and making organizational, personnel, acquisition, and oversight changes within the DoD.
Section 219 (formerly Section 224) of the FY27 House version of the NDAA would establish the "United States–Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative." The provision would establish a dedicated DoD executive officer to oversee U.S.-Israel defense cooperation programs to improve oversight and efficiency. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) led an effort to strike Section 219 by submitting it as an amendment to the Rules Committee to be considered when the NDAA came to the House floor. However, the Republican majority on the Rules Committee rejected this amendment, so it was not eligible for a vote on the House floor, and therefore I was unable to vote on it.
Following a year-long tour of every military installation in Maryland, countless meetings with servicemembers, local partners, military alliances, and Pentagon officials, and 14 hours of debate spent fighting to improve this bill, I ultimately voted against advancing the FY27 NDAA out of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and subsequently voted against this legislation when it was brought up on the House floor.
As a member of HASC, I have a great appreciation for the tireless bipartisan effort that goes into crafting the NDAA and the impact it has on our men and women in uniform. I have spent much of my first term in Congress finding avenues in this bill to strengthen installation readiness, lower costs for servicemembers, support our military families, advance health care and medical research, invest in the shipbuilding industry, modernize our cybersecurity, and so much more.
Despite the advancements we secured in this legislation, we cannot ignore the larger context of this moment. I could not vote to authorize $1.15 trillion for the DoD as this Administration wages an unjustified, unconstitutional war with Iran with no end in sight. I could not vote in support of the hateful culture wars that House Republicans inserted into this traditionally bipartisan legislation. I could not vote on a bill that places virtually no checks on an Administration that continues to put our servicemembers in harm's way and spends untold and unchecked billions of taxpayer dollars.
Working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I helped strengthen the legislation in support of our servicemembers. The final House version of the NDAA included 23 of my provisions in the base text, with an additional 20 adopted as amendments, including two floor amendments to study reserve child care programs and develop a domestic critical mineral workforce. The bill also authorized $86 million to protect the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis from flooding and sea-level rise—the largest earmark secured by any freshman lawmaker.
I spoke on the House floor against two amendments that would block international students from attending U.S. Service Academies and prohibit the use of funds for Ukraine security assistance. You can view detailed remarks by CLICKING HERE and HERE. Priorities for Maryland’s third district in the NDAA and my first statement on voting no on the legislation in Committee can be referenced HERE. This bill passed out of committee on June 4, 2026, and passed the House on July 22, 2026, by a vote of 216–212. It is now awaiting consideration in the Senate
Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this bill. It is an honor to serve you and the Third Congressional District. My priority has always been fighting for and delivering on our shared values. Please continue to keep me informed of the issues most important to you. If you need further assistance, please call my office at (202)-225-4016.
Please click here if you would like to receive periodic updates from my office.
Sincerely,
Sarah Elfreth
Member of Congress
