UNRWA Accountability Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-5898
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2018-05-21
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations

Congressional oversight

Foreign aid and international relief

International organizations and cooperation

Israel

Middle East

Palestinians

Performance measurement

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

United Nations
Latest action: action_date: 2018-06-28
text: Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules, by Unanimous Consent.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-05-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>UNRWA Accountability Act of 2018</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress on the long-term strategy for funding and policy towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The report shall include the national security impact of any such funding changes.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5898 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2018 Mr. Cicilline (for himself and Mr. Zeldin ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of State to develop a strategy on administration policy regarding UNRWA, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the UNRWA Accountability Act of 2018 . 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the United States should— (1) continue to oppose anti-Israel bias at the United Nations and in United Nations agencies; (2) define and convey to the United Nations and appropriate United Nations agencies reform priorities that should be met in order to facilitate future United States funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA); and (3) support greater transparency in ongoing reform efforts at UNRWA. 3. Requirement for strategy on administration policy regarding UNRWA (a) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report on the long-term strategy for funding and policy towards UNRWA. (b) Contents The strategy required under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A detailed strategy regarding future United States contributions to UNRWA, including the anticipated United States contributions to UNRWA for the five fiscal years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) An identification of the bureaus, entities, and leadership positions and offices within the Department of State or any other Executive branch agencies that review United States contributions to UNRWA, and an identification of the lead position in each such agency who is overseeing each such corresponding review. (3) The metrics, data, and other information being used by the Department of State or any other Executive branch agency to review United States contributions to UNRWA. (4) A description of any desired reforms the Administration has submitted to or requested from the United Nations or United Nations agencies that UNRWA undertake as a condition for future funding. (5) The national security impact of changes to United States funding to UNRWA. (c) Form The strategy required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.