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Amends two existing foreign-relations statutes to replace language about the Palestine Liberation Organization’s standing in United Nations agencies with a clearer prohibition: the PLO may not be given any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status. Also states explicitly that the Act does not apply to Taiwan. The change is technical but directly affects how U.S. law treats any upgrade of the PLO’s status at U.N. bodies and how that could affect U.S. contributions or policy tied to such a change.
Amend Section 414(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 by removing the words "the same standing as member states" and inserting the words "any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status." This change applies to the provision that addresses the Palestine Liberation Organization's membership in United Nations agencies .
Amend Section 410 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 by striking each place a specified phrase appears and inserting the phrase “any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status.”
States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to apply to Taiwan (i.e., the Act does not apply to Taiwan).
Primary effects are legal and diplomatic. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and United Nations agencies are the immediate subjects: the bill clarifies that, under U.S. law, the PLO may not be accorded any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status in U.N. bodies. That clarification guides how U.S. agencies apply existing contribution limits or other statutory conditions tied to PLO status. The State Department and Treasury (and other federal officials who manage U.S. contributions or diplomatic positions at the U.N.) will use the revised language when assessing whether a change in PLO status triggers funding or policy consequences. Congress may use the clarified wording in oversight and appropriations decisions. Diplomatically, the change is likely to matter to parties engaged in debates over Palestinian representation at the U.N. and could shape negotiations or proposals seeking upgraded PLO status. The Taiwan exclusion avoids any unintended application of these rules to Taiwan, so U.S.–Taiwan relations are unaffected by this statute. The bill does not create new federal spending, tax changes, or obligations for state or local governments.
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Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Introduced May 6, 2025 by James Baird · Last progress May 6, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Introduced in House