But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Ami Bera
- Backed with $8K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Sits on House Foreign Affairs
Bera voted present on the July 2026 Massie amendment to cut Israel funding, calling it "poorly drafted and overly broad" but declining to oppose it over the Netanyahu government's conduct in Gaza. In July 2025 he said Israel must ensure life-saving aid reaches Palestinian civilians.
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You asked Ami Bera where they stand.
Deep Dive
On the July 15, 2026 Massie amendment to eliminate Israel funding, Bera voted present and explained both halves: "This amendment is poorly drafted and overly broad. It would go beyond military assistance and restrict funding for humanitarian aid, refugee assistance, peacebuilding efforts, and U.S. diplomatic operations." And: "I cannot vote against this amendment because I do not condone the Netanyahu government's conduct of the war in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis, its actions in Lebanon, its failure to confront escalating settler violence in the West Bank, and its role in drawing the United States into the current war with Iran." He said a two-state solution remains the path to peace and "achieving that goal will require a change in America's approach toward the Netanyahu government."
In February 2024 he opposed the standalone House Republican Israel aid package, arguing military assistance to Israel should pass alongside humanitarian assistance for Gaza and aid for Ukraine and Taiwan. In April 2024 he supported the bipartisan supplemental replenishing Iron Dome and David's Sling while funding humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. In August 2026 he led 65 members, with Reps. Tran and Carbajal, in a letter urging Secretary of State Rubio to address Israeli dual-use restrictions impeding humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
On the conflict itself, he said in July 2025: "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. There is widespread starvation and the crisis is worsening with each passing day," pairing that with "Hamas must end this war, release all hostages, and accept a ceasefire agreement." In October 2025 he marked two years since October 7, welcomed the ceasefire deal, and celebrated the hostage releases while urging that the ceasefire be sustained and Gaza rebuilt.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 5 tracked votes
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Vote record imported from official House Clerk roll calls for H.R. 6126, H.R. 8034, and H.R. 8369. Other position fields remain under investigation.
How this mark works
We track key votes on sending U.S. weapons and money to the government of Israel. A check means every tracked vote they cast came down against sending more, on the side of peace and de-escalation. A question mark means a mixed record: they sided with sending up to half of the time. An X means they voted to send more weapons and money in over half of their tracked votes, even as the way those weapons and dollars were being used became more and more obvious. At exactly half, money this election cycle from a lobbying group we track, or an endorsement from a group that backs sending weapons, makes it an X. Only votes actually cast are counted. Where a candidate has no recorded votes on these bills, the mark comes instead from a reviewed reading of their public record (money from the lobbying groups we track, endorsements, and their own words since January 26, 2024). There an X also covers fully backing the conduct of the war by the government of Israel without significant reservations, and a question mark also covers speaking about Israel without saying clearly where they stand on U.S. weapons and funding. A dash means No Position Found: we found nothing in their own words about Israel, Gaza or the war.
See a dash? Ask the candidate where they stand, then send us their answer and we'll review it and update the mark. Or volunteer to help review candidates.
Voted to send weapons or funding in some, but no more than half, of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 5 tracked votes.)
The money
$8K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
Research log
The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- 2024-02-06 [Current position]: Opposed the standalone House Republican supplemental aid package to Israel; wanted military assistance to Israel passed with humanitarian assistance for Gaza and aid for Ukraine and Taiwan. Release.
- 2024-04-20 [Current position]: Supported the bipartisan national security supplemental funding Iron Dome and David's Sling replenishment plus humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. Release.
- 2026-07-15 [Current position; verified]: Voted present on the Massie amendment to eliminate Israel funding. Called it "poorly drafted and overly broad" for restricting humanitarian, refugee, peacebuilding, and diplomatic funding; would not vote against it because he does "not condone the Netanyahu government's conduct of the war in Gaza," its actions in Lebanon, its failure to confront West Bank settler violence, and its role in the war with Iran. Release.
- Recorded key votes (H.R. 6126, H.R. 8034, H.R. 8369, H.R. 7217, NDAA FY26 missile-defense amendment) are badges and are not restated here.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2023-11-03 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Video statement acknowledging the grief of Jewish and Palestinian constituents; called for an immediate humanitarian pause to deliver food, water, and medicine to civilians in Gaza. Release.
- December 2023 [Months after October 7, 2023; month-only date taken from the text itself; sourcing weak]: Co-introduced H.Res. 935 with Rep. Andy Kim urging scaled-up humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza; an initial search cites only the Feb/Apr 2024 releases for this. Not used on the card.
- 2025-07-25 [Current position; verified]: "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. There is widespread starvation and the crisis is worsening with each passing day." Israel must work expeditiously so aid reaches Palestinian civilians; "Hamas must end this war, release all hostages, and accept a ceasefire agreement." Release.
- 2025-10-07 [Current position]: Two-year anniversary statement condemning the Hamas attack and citing the immense toll on Palestinian civilians; urged all parties to accept the ceasefire proposal. Release.
- 2025-10-09 [Current position]: Welcomed the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement. Release.
- 2025-10-13 [Current position]: Celebrated the release of 20 living hostages; urged sustaining the ceasefire and rebuilding Gaza. Release.
- 2026-08-05 [Current position; source is the House homepage, which churns]: With Reps. Tran and Carbajal, led 65 members in a letter to Secretary Rubio urging action on Israeli dual-use restrictions impeding humanitarian assistance into Gaza. bera.house.gov.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- 2024-01-23 [Months after October 7, 2023; multi-signer letter; advocacy source]: Signed a bipartisan letter calling South Africa's ICJ genocide allegations against Israel "unfounded." Sourced to a critical Action Network petition (undated). Not verified, not used on the card.
- 2026-07-15 [Current position; verified]: Said a two-state solution remains the only viable path to lasting peace and "achieving that goal will require a change in America's approach toward the Netanyahu government." Release.
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
- May 2021 [Earlier record; source did not open]: Reported signer of a 130-member letter urging President Biden to protect Jewish communities after a surge in antisemitic incidents. Only source is a Hadassah Facebook post that would not open; no usable link.
- June 2021 [Earlier record; attribution suspect]: Reported backer of a request for an inter-agency antisemitism strategy and Special Envoy. Only source is a Jewish Cleveland blog post about Ohio representatives; Bera is a California member. Not used.
- 2022-06-29 [Earlier record; multi-signer letter]: One of 92 lawmakers urging DHS Secretary Mayorkas to lead a whole-of-government strategy on domestic antisemitism. Schneider release.
- May 2024 [Current position; source did not open and belongs to another account]: Reported Holocaust Remembrance ceremony statement; only source is a Massachusetts Governor Facebook post that would not open. Not used.
- 2026-01-27 [Current position; source did not open and belongs to another account]: Reported International Holocaust Remembrance Day statement; only source is a California Governor Facebook post that would not open. Not used.
- 2026-03-20 [Current position; multi-signer letter]: One of 148 members requesting $1 billion for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to secure houses of worship and at-risk centers. Amo release.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Robb Tucker (Republican)
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