Introduced in Senate — S. 898

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 898

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 6, 2025

Mr. Welch (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Hirono) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

A BILL

To restore funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025.

Sec. 2. Statement of policy

Congress—

(1)

recognizes that preventing further erosion of civilian conditions in Gaza remains in the strategic and moral interests of the United States;

(2)

supports UNRWA’s unique and indispensable contribution to immediately addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, especially in mitigating and stopping the spread of famine and disease;

(3)

reaffirms the imperative of UNRWA’s continued provision of humanitarian and human development services to Palestinian refugees in all its current fields of operation, including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem);

(4)

urges the Government of Israel to assist UNRWA in its neutrality efforts by providing names, information, and evidence UNRWA can use to aggressively pursue allegations related to staff violations of UNRWA’s neutrality policies;

(5)

urges the President—

(A)

to join United States allies in restoring funding to UNRWA in response to the responsible actions taken by the United Nations and the commitments made by UNRWA toward additional accountability and transparency; and

(B)

to ensure continued funding to UNRWA is assessed based on UNRWA’s ongoing execution of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group, led by Catherine Colonna;

(6)

recognizes the implementation of some of the Independent Review Group’s recommendations will require United Nations member state cooperation, including additional funding;

(7)

urges the United States and Israel to assist UNRWA in its implementation efforts of the Independent Review Group’s recommendations; and

(8)

supports appropriating critical funds to UNRWA for fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

Sec. 3. Restoration of funding for UNRWA

(a) In general

Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act—

(1)

title III of division G of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118–47) is hereby repealed;

(2)

section 308 of the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (division A of Public Law 118–50) is hereby repealed; and

(3)

the Secretary of State shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law and as soon as practicable—

(A)

resume the provision of funding to UNRWA under current authorities of the Department of State; and

(B)

provide funding to UNRWA consistent with the Secretary’s waiver for lifesaving humanitarian aid; and

(4)

the President shall rescind the Executive order entitled ‘‘Withdrawing the United States From and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations’’ of February 4, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg. 9275).

(b) Reports

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter through December 31, 2028, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees of jurisdiction describing the steps UNRWA is taking to implement the recommendations made by the Independent Review Group, led by Catherine Colonna.