Palestinian Accountability Act

Bill: 113-hr-1337
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. DeSantis, Ron [R-FL-6]
Introduced: 2013-03-21
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Accounting and auditing

Arab-Israeli relations

Congressional oversight

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Foreign aid and international relief

Gaza Strip

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Human rights

International organizations and cooperation

Israel

Middle East

Palestinians

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Sanctions

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Terrorism

Trade restrictions

United Nations

West Bank
Latest action: action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-03-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Palestinian Accountability Act - Prohibits any U.S. government document from referring to the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) as Palestine until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the PA: (1) does not inappropriately influence elections in PA-contolled areas; (2) is promoting human rights and ending government corruption; (3) has taken steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructures and arrest terrorists, control Palestinian security organizations, and end the incitement to violence and hatred in the Palestinian media, educational institutions, and mosques; (4) has ceased to participate in any boycott of Israel; (5) works with Israel to implement the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict of 2003 (the Roadmap to Peace); (6) recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state; and (7) has excluded Hamas from participating in a unity government or has required Hamas to publicly support such requirements.</p> <p>Prohibits certain Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 funds from being made available to the PA unless: (1) a U.S. nongovernmental or private entity audits the PA budget and the Secretary submits the audit to Congress, and (2) the Secretary certifies to Congress that the PA meets specified requirements.</p> <p>Prohibits funds from being obligated or expended for U.S. contributions to the United Nations (U.N.) if a Palestinian state is recognized as a U.N. member state unless the Secretary certifies to Congress that the PA meets specified requirements.</p> <p>Prohibits funds from from being obligated or expended for U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) unless: (1) a U.S. nongovernmental or private entity audits the UNRWA budget and the Secretary submits the audit to Congress, and (2) the Secretary certifies to Congress that UNRWA meets specified requirements.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1337 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 21, 2013 Mr. DeSantis (for himself, Mr. Culberson , Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas , Mr. Pitts , Mr. Flores , Mr. King of Iowa , and Mr. Franks of Arizona ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To restrict funds for the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Palestinian Accountability Act . 2. Prohibition on use of the term Palestine in United States Government documents (a) In general No United States Government document may refer to the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority as Palestine until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the Palestinian Authority, at a minimum— (1) does not manipulate or inappropriately influence in any way the outcome of presidential or legislative elections in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority; (2) is advancing democratic ideals by actively promoting human rights and ending government corruption through increased efficiency and transparency in all government agencies and initiatives; (3) regularly and strongly condemns terrorism; (4) has taken, and plans to continue to take, tangible steps to disavow terrorism, dismantle terrorist infrastructures, confiscate unauthorized weapons, arrest and bring terrorists to justice, consolidate and control the Palestinian security organizations, and end the incitement to violence and hatred in the Palestinian media, educational institutions, mosques, and other institutions; (5) has ceased to participate in any economic, educational, cultural, or other boycott of Israel, its citizens, its products, or its services; (6) has worked, and plans to continue to work, actively with the Government of Israel to implement the steps and adhere to the principles set out in the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict of 2003 (commonly referred to as the Roadmap to Peace ) (or any successor to such) to bring security, peace, and reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians; (7) recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and conducts diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in the same manner and to the same extent as it conducts diplomatic relations with any other country; and (8) has either excluded Hamas from participating in a unity government or, if not, has required Hamas to explicitly and publicly support the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (7) of this subsection. (b) Nonwaivability The prohibition under subsection (a) may not be waived for any purpose. 3. Prohibition on United States funds to the Palestinian Authority (a) In general No funds available to any United States Government department or agency to carry out the provisions of chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for any fiscal year may be obligated or expended with respect to providing funds to the Palestinian Authority unless with respect to such fiscal year— (1) an independent audit of the budget of the Palestinian Authority is conducted by a United States nongovernmental or private organization or entity and the Secretary of State submits such audit to Congress; and (2) the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the Palestinian Authority, at a minimum, meets the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (8) of section 2(a) of this Act. (b) Effective date This section takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and applies with respect to funds available for fiscal year 2013 and subsequent fiscal years. 4. Prohibition on United States contributions to the United Nations (a) In general Except as provided in section 5, no funds available to any United States Government department or agency for any fiscal year may be obligated or expended with respect to making contributions to the United Nations if a Palestinian state is recognized as a member state of the United Nations unless with respect to such fiscal year the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the Palestinian Authority, at a minimum, meets the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (8) of section 2(a) of this Act. (b) Effective date This section takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and applies with respect to funds available for fiscal year 2013 and subsequent fiscal years. 5. Prohibition on United States contributions to UNRWA (a) In general No funds available to any United States Government department or agency for any fiscal year may be obligated or expended with respect to making contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) unless with respect to such fiscal year— (1) an independent audit of the budget of UNRWA is conducted by a United States nongovernmental or private organization or entity and the Secretary of State submits such audit to Congress; and (2) the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that UNRWA, at a minimum, meets the requirements applicable to the Palestinian Authority under paragraphs (1) to (3), (5), and (7) of section 2(a) of this Act, except that for purposes of meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) of such section, the term Palestinian Authority shall be deemed to be UNRWA . (b) Effective date This section takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and applies with respect to funds available for fiscal year 2013 and subsequent fiscal years.