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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3723 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

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.

    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 ``Defund United Nations Relief and 
Works Agency Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) substantial evidence exists that the United Nations 
        Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 
        (referred to in this Act as ``UNRWA'') aided Hamas terrorists 
        in their attacks against Israel;
            (2) funds intended for the humanitarian relief of 
        Palestinian civilians are being used to fund Hamas; and
            (3) UNRWA has proven through its actions to be at odds with 
        the interests of the United States and its partners in the 
        Middle East.
    (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States not 
to cooperate with or otherwise facilitate the interests of any entity 
affiliated with or assisting Hamas.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING.

    Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, no funds 
previously appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 
2024 or any prior fiscal year for UNRWA may be made available.

SEC. 4. IMMIGRATION BAN.

    (a) Prohibition on Admission.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (b), any 
        individual who is, or has ever been, affiliated with UNRWA may 
        not be admitted to the United States.
            (2) Revocation of nonimmigrant visas.--The Secretary of 
        Homeland Security shall revoke any nonimmigrant visa issued to 
        any individual described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Exceptions.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not 
apply to--
            (1) United States citizens or nationals or aliens lawfully 
        admitted for permanent residence before the date of the 
        enactment of this Act; or
            (2) the admittance of any individual that is required under 
        the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, 
        signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force 
        November 21, 1947.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 212(a)(3)(B)(i) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(i)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subclause (I), by inserting ``, which shall include 
        any alien who is an officer, official, representative, or 
        spokesperson of the Palestine Liberation Organization or of the 
        United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees 
        in the Near East (UNRWA)'' before the semicolon at the end; and
            (2) by striking the undesignated matter following subclause 
        (IX).

SEC. 5. REVOCATION OF TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.

    For any taxable year ending after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, UNRWA USA--
            (1) shall not be treated as described in subsection (c) of 
        section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
            (2) shall not be exempt from taxation under subsection (a) 
        of such section.
                                 <all>
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