But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check

Laura Gillen

Democrat · U.S. House, New York District 4
✗Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 2 tracked votes

Gillen staunchly opposed Rep. Massie’s amendment to cut all U.S. funding for Israel, saying it would "threaten our strategic alliance" and cut peace-building funding. After visiting Israel she said Hamas, not Israeli policy, caused Gaza’s suffering.

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Deep Dive

Gillen represents New York’s 4th District on Long Island, previously served as Town Supervisor of Hempstead, and is running for re-election.

She stated her position on the record on the day of the vote. Her statement of July 15, 2026 addresses "Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) amendment that would cut all funding for Israel from the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act", and reads: "The State of Israel is one of our most important allies and the only democracy in the Middle East. I firmly support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself from threats, including Iran and terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This extremely harmful amendment would threaten our strategic alliance, undermine our national security interests and eliminate funding for important research and diplomacy in the region, including the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, which supports Israeli-Palestinian people-to-people initiatives. That is why I staunchly opposed it."

On Gaza she places responsibility on Hamas. After an August 2025 congressional trip to Israel she told The Jewish Star that "Hamas can end this war and end the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians by giving back the hostages and relinquishing its power", arguing the suffering came from Hamas diverting aid rather than from Israeli policy, and that "Israel is letting aid get into Gaza".

In February 2025 she said the United States needs to "get more hawkish and get more aggressive against Iran", and in the same interview warned that Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank could be "inflammatory". Much of her remaining record is antisemitism legislation, which is context here. Her recorded votes and her funding from pro-Israel committees are shown separately on this card.

The record

Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 2 tracked votes

Floor votes
H.Amdt. 55 to H.R. 4016 - strike $500M for Israeli Cooperative Programs2025-07-18 · Failed 6-422 (only 6 voted to cut)
✗ Voted No
voted against limiting it
H.R. 8595 - Massie amendment (Part A No. 8) to bar FY27 funds for Israel and cut $3.3B in Foreign Military Financing2026-07-15 · Failed 104-314
✗ Voted No
voted against limiting it
Bill sponsorship
H.R. 3565 - Block the Bombs ActWould bar transfer of 2,000-lb/BLU-109 bunker busters, JDAMs, 120mm tank rounds, and 155mm artillery shells to Israel. Does not affect Iron
Not sponsoringhas not backed this restriction bill
H.R. 1229 - United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025Formalizes/expands bilateral defense cooperation with Israel.
Co-sponsorbacks this bill to send more support
Notable actions

• Went on a trip sponsored by the lobby for the government of Israel in August 2025. Made statements supporting the government of Israel.

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 more than half of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 2 tracked votes.)

The money

$23K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track

Career signals
Endorsed by a group we track that supports U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel · Accepted a lobby-funded trip
Lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
AIPAC PAC: $5,000 · DMFI: $17,600
Support-only OpenFEC data (as of 2026-10-03). Opposition independent expenditures are excluded.
Who these lobbying groups are
AIPAC$5,000The American Israel Public Affairs Committee; its PAC backs candidates it sees as strengthening U.S. ties with the government of Israel, including continued U.S. military aid.DMFI PAC$17,600Democratic Majority for Israel's PAC; calls itself the home for pro-Israel Democrats and backs Democratic candidates who support a strong U.S. alliance with the government of Israel.Direct contributions and independent expenditures supporting this candidate from the five lobbying groups we track, every cycle each has filed, through 2026. Excludes earmarked and conduit contributions.
Endorsed by AIPAC +1 more
AIPACThe American Israel Public Affairs Committee; its PAC backs candidates it sees as strengthening U.S. ties with the government of Israel, including continued U.S. military aid.DMFI PACDemocratic Majority for Israel's PAC; calls itself the home for pro-Israel Democrats and backs Democratic candidates who support a strong U.S. alliance with the government of Israel.These endorsements come from groups that back sending U.S. weapons and funding to the government of Israel.

In their words

“This extremely harmful amendment would threaten our strategic alliance, undermine our national security interests and eliminate funding for important research and diplomacy in the region, including the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, which supports Israeli-Palestinian people-to-people initiatives. That is why I staunchly opposed it.”
Source ↗, 2026-07-15
Endorsements

AIPAC (2026 endorsement) · DMFI PAC (2026 endorsement)

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

  • 2026-07-15 [Current position; VERIFIED]: "Rep. Gillen Statement on Rep. Massie's Amendment to Eliminate U.S. Aid to Israel", read in full. The release describes the vote as "Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-KY) amendment that would cut all funding for Israel from the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act". Her words: "The State of Israel is one of our most important allies and the only democracy in the Middle East. I firmly support Israel's right to exist and defend itself from threats, including Iran and terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This extremely harmful amendment would threaten our strategic alliance, undermine our national security interests and eliminate funding for important research and diplomacy in the region, including the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, which supports Israeli-Palestinian people-to-people initiatives. That is why I staunchly opposed it."

⚠ **THIS IS A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE TRACKED H.R. 8595 AMENDMENT VOTE IS.** A member's own release names it as Massie's amendment to cut all Israel funding from the National Security and State Department appropriations act, which identifies both the bill and the amendment. Her badge records No and she says she staunchly opposed it.

  • 2026-03-05 [Current position]: Statement on the House war powers resolution affirming she will "do everything I can to support our troops, stand with our ally Israel, and strengthen our national security" against Iranian-backed threats.
  • 2025-02-10 [Current position]: In an interview she said the U.S. needs to "get more hawkish and get more aggressive against Iran" and backed strict sanctions cutting funding to Iran and its proxies including Hamas and Hezbollah. About Iran rather than about what the U.S. sends Israel.
  • 2026-07-28 [Current position]: A campaign piece from another candidate's site reporting that she and Rep. Suozzi stand with Israel. Another campaign's framing of her, recorded as consulted.

U.S. aid to Palestinians

  • 2025-08-19 [Current position]: After the August 2025 trip she told The Jewish Star: "Hamas can end this war and end the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians by giving back the hostages and relinquishing its power", arguing the suffering in Gaza was caused by Hamas taking aid for military use rather than by Israeli policy, and that "Israel is letting aid get into Gaza". A position on the cause of the aid shortfall rather than on U.S. funding.
  • 2026-07-15 [Current position]: Her Massie statement defends funding for the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, which supports Israeli-Palestinian people-to-people work. The one located instance of her defending U.S. money that reaches Palestinians.

Characterization of the conflict

  • 2025-10-07 [Current position]: Two-year statement calling the attack "the single deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust", referencing her visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz and the Nova festival site, and urging Hamas to accept a U.S.-led peace plan.
  • 2025-10-13 [Current position]: Statement on the hostage release and peace agreement, expressing relief after "suffering caused by Hamas terrorists".
  • 2025-02-10 [Current position]: In the same interview she warned Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank could be "inflammatory" while the U.S. worked toward regional stability. Her one located criticism of Israeli government policy.

Rhetoric and lobbying

  • 2025-08 [Current position]: She took part in a weeklong congressional delegation to Israel organised by the American Israel Education Foundation, an AIPAC affiliate, meeting Israeli officials including President Herzog. The record's existing research also notes this trip.
  • 2025-08-19 [Current position]: "We hear a lot from the fringes on both sides of the aisle, but the majority of the members understand that Israel is our ally, and we need to support them."
  • 2023-06-02 [Earlier record]: Her campaign endorsements page.
  • 2025-10-26 [Current position]: A Jews for Racial and Economic Justice posting of Guardian coverage about New York politics. An advocacy host, recorded as consulted.

Safety and antisemitism

[Context only, never the answer to what America sends. Campus measures are named out of scope.]

Consulted and unusable

Also in this race

  1. ? Jeanine Driscoll (Republican)

All New York candidates.

But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open Find Your Candidates for votes, funding and contact details.