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UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

USA117th CongressS-2479| Senate 
| Updated: 7/27/2021
James E. Risch

James E. Risch

Republican Senator

Idaho

Cosponsors (13)
Rick Scott (Republican)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)John Thune (Republican)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Rob Portman (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act This bill makes changes to U.S. foreign policy in matters concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). For purposes of this policy, the bill defines Palestinian refugee as a person who (1) resided from June 1946 to May 1948 in Mandatory Palestine (a region controlled by Britain until 1948), (2) was personally displaced as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and (3) has not accepted citizenship or other permanent adjustment in status in another country. The bill withholds U.S. funding for the UNRWA unless the Department of State makes certifications concerning the UNRWA's staff, partners, and funding. Specifically, the State Department must certify that neither UNRWA staff and partners nor its funding and facilities are affiliated with terrorism or engaged in the dissemination of anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic ideologies. Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is subject to comprehensive financial audits by an independent auditing firm and is unaffiliated with any financial institutions that the United States considers to be complicit in money laundering or terror financing. The bill also requires the State Department to implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their activities and efforts regarding the UNRWA with U.S. policy objectives, including the phase out of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees in countries other than Israel and in territories not controlled by Israel. The State Department must report to Congress on this plan.
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Timeline
Jul 27, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jul 27, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Aug 4, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4721
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.
  • July 27, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 27, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • August 4, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4721
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 117-3467: UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
  • HR 117-4721: UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

USA117th CongressS-2479| Senate 
| Updated: 7/27/2021
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act This bill makes changes to U.S. foreign policy in matters concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). For purposes of this policy, the bill defines Palestinian refugee as a person who (1) resided from June 1946 to May 1948 in Mandatory Palestine (a region controlled by Britain until 1948), (2) was personally displaced as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and (3) has not accepted citizenship or other permanent adjustment in status in another country. The bill withholds U.S. funding for the UNRWA unless the Department of State makes certifications concerning the UNRWA's staff, partners, and funding. Specifically, the State Department must certify that neither UNRWA staff and partners nor its funding and facilities are affiliated with terrorism or engaged in the dissemination of anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic ideologies. Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is subject to comprehensive financial audits by an independent auditing firm and is unaffiliated with any financial institutions that the United States considers to be complicit in money laundering or terror financing. The bill also requires the State Department to implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their activities and efforts regarding the UNRWA with U.S. policy objectives, including the phase out of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees in countries other than Israel and in territories not controlled by Israel. The State Department must report to Congress on this plan.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 27, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jul 27, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Aug 4, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4721
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.
  • July 27, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 27, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • August 4, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4721
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.
James E. Risch

James E. Risch

Republican Senator

Idaho

Cosponsors (13)
Rick Scott (Republican)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)John Thune (Republican)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Rob Portman (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 117-3467: UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
  • HR 117-4721: UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted