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UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

USA118th CongressS-431| Senate 
| Updated: 2/15/2023
James E. Risch

James E. Risch

Republican Senator

Idaho

Cosponsors (24)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Tommy Tuberville (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mike Braun (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Mike Lee (Republican)J. D. Vance (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Mitt Romney (Republican)John Thune (Republican)Tim Scott (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Bill Hagerty (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (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. Furthermore, under U.S. policy, derivative refugee status may only extend to the spouse or minor child of such a Palestinian refugee. 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 disseminating certain rhetoric, such as calling for the destruction of Israel or describing Israelis as occupiers or settlers . Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is (1) subject to comprehensive independent financial audits, and (2) not affiliated with any financial institutions complicit in money laundering or terror financing. The State Department must also implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their UNRWA-related activities with U.S. policy objectives, including the phaseout of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees outside of Israel.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3467
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-2479
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
Feb 15, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Feb 15, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Feb 17, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-1102
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3467
    UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-2479
    UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act


  • February 15, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 15, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • February 17, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-1102
    Introduced in House

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 118-1102: UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

USA118th CongressS-431| Senate 
| Updated: 2/15/2023
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. Furthermore, under U.S. policy, derivative refugee status may only extend to the spouse or minor child of such a Palestinian refugee. 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 disseminating certain rhetoric, such as calling for the destruction of Israel or describing Israelis as occupiers or settlers . Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is (1) subject to comprehensive independent financial audits, and (2) not affiliated with any financial institutions complicit in money laundering or terror financing. The State Department must also implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their UNRWA-related activities with U.S. policy objectives, including the phaseout of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees outside of Israel.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3467
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-2479
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
Feb 15, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Feb 15, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Feb 17, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-1102
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3467
    UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-2479
    UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act


  • February 15, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 15, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • February 17, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-1102
    Introduced in House
James E. Risch

James E. Risch

Republican Senator

Idaho

Cosponsors (24)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Tommy Tuberville (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mike Braun (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Mike Lee (Republican)J. D. Vance (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Mitt Romney (Republican)John Thune (Republican)Tim Scott (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Bill Hagerty (Republican)John Barrasso (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)Mike Crapo (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 118-1102: UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted