A bipartisan effort in Congress to stop a proposed multibillion-dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia is gaining steam, and 114 lawmakers have now declared their opposition to the plan, which the Bush administration says would stabilize the Middle East.

“If a sale containing weapons for Saudi Arabia is proposed to Congress under the Arms Export Act of 1976, we intend to stop it,” reads the letter to Bush.

Under the act, Congress is given 30 days to review any large arms package — such as the one being proposed between Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern allies, including Egypt and Israel — once lawmakers receive official notification from the administration. Congress could then offer a joint resolution of disapproval, which could block the deal.

While Ferguson was the lone Republican to support the effort earlier this week, the number of GOP lawmakers who vowed to take action has swollen to 18.

“It represents the tip of the iceberg,” said Weiner. The New York Democrat expects the number of lawmakers willing to block the deal to grow once the details of the arms sale reach Capitol Hill, likely this September. Press reports describe Saudi Arabia as buying satellite-guided munitions and naval vessels, among other items, worth up to $20 billion, from the United States.

Members have opposed the deal for a litany of reasons, centering around Sunni insurgents in Iraq allegedly receiving support from Saudi Arabia as well as various charities based in the kingdom being charged with financing terrorism.  

Representatives also said the Saudi government has not kept its promises in the past.

“The Saudis’ word has not been very good,” said Ferguson.