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UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
12/31/2022, 5:05 AM
Summary of Bill HR 4721
The bill aims to achieve this by requiring the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress detailing the financial contributions made by the United States to UNRWA. This report would include information on how these funds are being used, as well as any steps taken by UNRWA to prevent the misuse of funds or support terrorism.
Additionally, the bill calls for the Secretary of State to provide Congress with a detailed assessment of the effectiveness of UNRWA's programs and services. This assessment would include information on the impact of UNRWA's activities on the Palestinian refugee population, as well as any efforts made by UNRWA to promote peace and stability in the region. Overall, the UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act seeks to ensure that US taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and responsibly by UNRWA. By increasing oversight and reporting requirements, this bill aims to hold UNRWA accountable for its actions and promote greater transparency in its operations.
Congressional Summary of HR 4721
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
This bill makes changes to U.S. foreign policy in matters concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
For purposes of this policy, the bill defines Palestinian refugee as a person who (1) resided from June 1946 to May 1948 in Mandatory Palestine (a region controlled by Britain until 1948), (2) was personally displaced as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and (3) has not accepted citizenship or other permanent adjustment in status in another country.
The bill withholds U.S. funding for the UNRWA unless the Department of State makes certifications concerning the UNRWA's staff, partners, and funding. Specifically, the State Department must certify that neither UNRWA staff and partners nor its funding and facilities are affiliated with terrorism or engaged in the dissemination of anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic ideologies. Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is subject to comprehensive financial audits by an independent auditing firm and is unaffiliated with any financial institutions that the United States considers to be complicit in money laundering or terror financing.
The bill also requires the State Department to implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their activities and efforts regarding the UNRWA with U.S. policy objectives, including the phase out of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees in countries other than Israel and in territories not controlled by Israel. The State Department must report to Congress on this plan.
