II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3723 

To prohibit funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 1, 2024 

Mr. COTTON (for himself and Mr. CRUZ) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance 

A BILL 

To prohibit funding for the United Nations Relief and Works 

Agency, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Defund United Na5 tions Relief and Works Agency Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

8 (1) substantial evidence exists that the United 

9 Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Ref10 ugees in the Near East (referred to in this Act as 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•S 3723 IS

1 ‘‘UNRWA’’) aided Hamas terrorists in their attacks 

2 against Israel; 

3 (2) funds intended for the humanitarian relief 

4 of Palestinian civilians are being used to fund 

5 Hamas; and 

6 (3) UNRWA has proven through its actions to 

7 be at odds with the interests of the United States 

8 and its partners in the Middle East. 

9 (b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 

10 United States not to cooperate with or otherwise facilitate 

11 the interests of any entity affiliated with or assisting 

12 Hamas. 

13 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING. 

14 Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, 

15 no funds previously appropriated or otherwise made avail16 able for fiscal year 2024 or any prior fiscal year for 

17 UNRWA may be made available. 

18 SEC. 4. IMMIGRATION BAN. 

19 (a) PROHIBITION ON ADMISSION.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub21 section (b), any individual who is, or has ever been, 

22 affiliated with UNRWA may not be admitted to the 

23 United States. 

24 (2) REVOCATION OF NONIMMIGRANT VISAS.— 

25 The Secretary of Homeland Security shall revoke 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•S 3723 IS

1 any nonimmigrant visa issued to any individual de2 scribed in paragraph (1). 

3 (b) EXCEPTIONS.—The prohibition under subsection 

4 (a) shall not apply to— 

5 (1) United States citizens or nationals or aliens 

6 lawfully admitted for permanent residence before the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act; or 

8 (2) the admittance of any individual that is re9 quired under the Agreement regarding the Head10 quarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Suc11 cess June 26, 1947, and entered into force Novem12 ber 21, 1947. 

13 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

14 212(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

15 (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(i)) is amended— 

16 (1) in subclause (I), by inserting ‘‘, which shall 

17 include any alien who is an officer, official, rep18 resentative, or spokesperson of the Palestine Libera19 tion Organization or of the United Nations Relief 

20 and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the 

21 Near East (UNRWA)’’ before the semicolon at the 

22 end; and 

23 (2) by striking the undesignated matter fol24 lowing subclause (IX). 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•S 3723 IS

1 SEC. 5. REVOCATION OF TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. 

2 For any taxable year ending after the date of the en3 actment of this Act, UNRWA USA— 

4 (1) shall not be treated as described in sub5 section (c) of section 501 of the Internal Revenue 

6 Code of 1986; and 

7 (2) shall not be exempt from taxation under 

8 subsection (a) of such section. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB