Introduced in Senate — S. 1583

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1583

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 1, 2025

Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

A BILL

To restrict the use of United States Assessed Contributions to the United Nations under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023) to support the African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act of 2025.

Sec. 2. Definitions

In this Act:

(1) Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(2) AUSSOM

The term AUSSOM means the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, established as the successor mission to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2767 (2024).

(3) Resolution 2719

The term Resolution 2719 means United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, adopted on December 21, 2023.

Sec. 3. Statement of policy

It is the policy of the United States—

(1)

to support Somali- and African partner-led initiatives—

(A)

to contain and defeat al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia;

(B)

to foster peace, security, stability, and economic development within Somalia; and

(C)

to support the development of functional Somali state institutions at the national and federal member state level;

(2)

to ensure appropriate and fair burden sharing at the United Nations, including for United Nations peacekeeping missions and United Nations support to African Union peace support operations;

(3)

to uphold the conditions set forth in Resolution 2719 for the application of United Nations assessed contributions to African Union peace support operations on a case-by-case basis, including conditions that require—

(A)

that funding from assessed contributions cannot exceed 75 percent of the annual budget of an African Union peace support operation under a one mission, one budget model, with the remaining 25 percent mobilized by the African Union and United Nations from the international community as extra-budgetary resources;

(B)

compliance with—

(i)

the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on United Nations support to non-United Nations security forces;

(ii)

the African Union Compliance Framework on International Human Rights Law;

(iii)

the African Union Policy on Conduct and Discipline for Peace Support Operations; and

(iv)

the African Union Policy on Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse;

(C)

the prioritization of protection of civilians; and

(D)

the existence and application of appropriate accountability mechanisms of African Union-led peace support operations to member states of the United Nations;

(4)

to judiciously consider United States support for the application of United Nations assessed contributions to African Union peace support operations, including the selection of an appropriate first application of Resolution 2719 that—

(A)

responds to a new crisis or threat with the demonstrable need for a multi-lateral response led by the African Union; and

(B)

has clear and achievable objectives; and

(5)

to encourage the exploration and utilization of alternative funding mechanisms for AUSSOM that do not rely on United Nations assessed contributions to diversify AUSSOM’s financial burden and promote international responsibility-sharing.

Sec. 4. Restriction on funding

(a) Prohibition

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available for assessed contributions of the United States to the United Nations, including any organ, agency, or entity of the United Nations, may be obligated or expended for—

(1)

any activity related to the implementation of Resolution 2719 in support of AUSSOM or any other African Union-led peace support mission in Somalia; or

(2)

any program, project, or initiative for Somalia directly linked to the mandate outlined in Resolution 2719.

(b) Direction to United States Ambassador to the United Nations

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, or their designee shall use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States at the United Nations—

(1)

to oppose any United Nations Security Council resolution that would authorize funding prohibited under subsection (a); and

(2)

to decline to join in consensus on any United Nations Security Council product, including letters from the United Nations Security Council President, that authorizes funding prohibited under subsection (a).

(c) Exceptions

This restriction under subsection (a) shall not apply to—

(1)

the use of United Nations assessed contributions to fund the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) as approved by the United Nations Security Council;

(2)

the use of voluntary contributions of the United States to the United Nations or funds expressly appropriated by Congress to support AUSSOM;

(3)

humanitarian assistance funded with United Nations assessed or voluntary contributions delivered through nongovernmental organizations or United Nations agencies that operate independently of AUSSOM; and

(4)

expenditures for salaries of United States personnel, administrative costs, or other support services directly associated with the oversight or monitoring of assessed contributions of the United States to the United Nations to ensure compliance with this Act.

Sec. 5. Annual assessment

(a) In general

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall conduct an annual assessment of the African Union’s ability to meet the terms and conditions outlined in Resolution 2719 paragraphs 3 to 13 for African Union-led peace support operations to receive United Nations Security Council authorization to have access to United Nations assessed contributions.

(b) Independent assessment

The assessment required under subsection (a) shall be conducted independently of any assessment of the same conducted by the United Nations Secretary General and reported to the United Nations Security Council under paragraphs 15 and 16 of Resolution 2719.

Sec. 6. Reporting requirement

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes—

(1)

the findings of the assessment required under section 5;

(2)

the total assessed contributions of the United States to the United Nations for peacekeeping;

(3)

the allocations and expenditures for assessed contributions to the United Nations under Resolution 2719;

(4)

an assessment of how United Nations assessed contributions are being used to implement Resolution 2719;

(5)

an analysis of the performance and effectiveness of AUSSOM, including the types and impact of United States support to Somalia directly or indirectly impacting the mission and objectives of AUSSOM;

(6)

a breakdown of financial and other support for AUSSOM provided by the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and other international and regional actors, including both bilateral and multilateral contributions;

(7)

the status of and progress made toward finding alternative funding mechanisms for AUSSOM; and

(8)

a description of measures taken to ensure compliance with section 4.

Sec. 7. Consultations

Section 4(d)(2) of the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (22 U.S.C. 287b(d)(2)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting and African Union peace support operations receiving United Nations assessed contributions under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023)(referred to in this paragraph as Resolution 2719) after peacekeeping operations; and

(B)

in clause (i), by inserting or African Union peace support operation receiving United Nations assessed contributions under Resolution 2719 after peacekeeping operation; and

(2)

in subparagraph (B)—

(A)

in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting and African Union peace support operation receiving United Nations assessed contributions under Resolution 2719 after peacekeeping operation; and

(B)

in clause (v), by inserting or African Union peace support operation receiving United Nations assessed contributions under Resolution 2719, as the case may be after peacekeeping operation.