RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act

Bill: 119-s-384
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2025-02-04
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria Act or the RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act</strong></p><p>This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to prepare or promulgate certain materials (including any policy, guidance, regulation, executive order, or other work products) that refer to Judea and Samaria as the West Bank. The prohibition does not apply to U.S. obligations under international treaties or other agreements.</p><p>The bill also amends certain laws to replace the term <em>the West Bank</em> with <em>Judea and Samaria</em>.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 384 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 4, 2025 Mr. Cotton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To prohibit the use of materials that use the term West Bank , and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria Act or the RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act . 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government— (1) should refer to the land annexed by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War by its historical names of Judea and Samaria , with the land south of Jerusalem being considered Judea and the land north of Jerusalem being considered Samaria ; and (2) should no longer use the term “West Bank” in official government materials. 3. Prohibition on use of materials that use the term West Bank (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available after the date of the enactment of this Act may be obligated or expended to prepare or promulgate any policy, guidance, regulation, notice, Executive order, materials, briefing, press release, communications, or other work product that refers to Judea and Samaria as the “West Bank”. (b) Exception The prohibition in this section shall not apply with respect to the obligation or expenditure of funds relating to obligations of the United States under international treaties or other agreements. (c) Waiver The Secretary of State may waive the prohibition in this section if the Secretary— (1) determines that is in the interests of the United States to do so; and (2) submits to Congress an explanation for the waiver not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary makes the determination. 4. Conforming changes to United States law (a) Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended as follows: (1) In section 620K(f)(3) ( 22 U.S.C. 2378b(f)(3) ), by striking the West Bank and inserting Judea and Samaria . (2) In section 620L ( 22 U.S.C. 2378c )— (A) in the section heading, by striking the west bank and inserting judea and samaria ; and (B) by striking the West Bank each place it appears and inserting Judea and Samaria . (b) Taylor Force Act Section 1004 of the Taylor Force Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2378c–1 ) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking the west bank and inserting judea and samaria ; and (2) by striking the West Bank each place it appears and inserting Judea and Samaria . (c) Multinational Force and Observers Participation Resolution Section 2 of the Multinational Force and Observers Participation Resolution ( 22 U.S.C. 3421 ) is amended by striking the West Bank and inserting Judea and Samaria . (d) Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 Section 414 of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 ( 22 U.S.C. 4862 ) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking west bank and inserting judea and samaria ; and (2) by striking the West Bank and inserting Judea and Samaria . (e) United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 Section 9 of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 ( Public Law 99–47 ; 19 U.S.C. 2112 note) is amended by striking the West Bank each place it appears and inserting Judea and Samaria . (f) Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 Section 2021(i) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 ( 22 U.S.C. 2151 note) is amended by striking the West Bank and inserting Judea and Samaria . (g) Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 Section 699 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 ( Public Law 107–228 ; 22 U.S.C. 2301 note) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking west bank and inserting judea and samaria ; and (2) in subsection (a), by striking the West Bank and inserting Judea and Samaria . (h) Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act Section 8005 of the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (division K of Public Law 116–260 ) is amended by striking the West Bank each place it appears and inserting Judea and Samaria .