This legislation, titled the "UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025," seeks to immediately restore United States funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It explicitly repeals previous legislative provisions from the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, and the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, which had prohibited such funding. Additionally, it mandates the President to rescind an Executive Order from February 2025 that withdrew U.S. support and ended funding to certain United Nations organizations. The bill directs the Secretary of State to resume providing funding to UNRWA under existing authorities, emphasizing the agency's indispensable contribution to addressing urgent humanitarian needs, particularly in mitigating famine and disease in Gaza. Congress reaffirms UNRWA's role in providing humanitarian and human development services to Palestinian refugees across its operational fields, including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank. The legislation urges the President to join allies in restoring funding based on UNRWA's responsible actions and commitments to accountability and transparency, specifically referencing the recommendations of the Independent Review Group led by Catherine Colonna. The Secretary of State will also be required to submit quarterly reports on UNRWA's progress in implementing these recommendations.
This legislation, titled the "UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025," seeks to immediately restore United States funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It explicitly repeals previous legislative provisions from the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, and the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, which had prohibited such funding. Additionally, it mandates the President to rescind an Executive Order from February 2025 that withdrew U.S. support and ended funding to certain United Nations organizations. The bill directs the Secretary of State to resume providing funding to UNRWA under existing authorities, emphasizing the agency's indispensable contribution to addressing urgent humanitarian needs, particularly in mitigating famine and disease in Gaza. Congress reaffirms UNRWA's role in providing humanitarian and human development services to Palestinian refugees across its operational fields, including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank. The legislation urges the President to join allies in restoring funding based on UNRWA's responsible actions and commitments to accountability and transparency, specifically referencing the recommendations of the Independent Review Group led by Catherine Colonna. The Secretary of State will also be required to submit quarterly reports on UNRWA's progress in implementing these recommendations.