Sponsors (2)
The bill standardizes U.S. government usage of a specific historic geographic name to achieve internal consistency and clearer statutory wording, but it does so at the cost of diplomatic friction, possible legal challenges, administrative expenses, and risks of program delays.
Federal employees and agencies will use a single, uniform geographic label ('Judea and Samaria') across official materials and statutes, reducing internal ambiguity and inconsistent naming in U.S. government documents.
State and local program administrators (and the programs they run) will have clearer statutory wording referencing the same territory, which can streamline administration and eligibility determinations for foreign-aid and related programs.
The bill preserves diplomatic flexibility by allowing exceptions for treaty or agreement obligations and gives the Secretary of State waiver authority with a 30-day congressional explanation, maintaining a safety valve for urgent or binding international commitments.
Foreign governments, international organizations, and U.S. diplomatic efforts could face increased friction because the terminology change may be perceived as a political recognition or one-sided position, undermining U.S. neutrality and complicating peace diplomacy.
Federal agencies (and state/local implementers) will incur operational and administrative costs — revising maps, documents, databases, templates, translations, and training — which will impose direct expenses on agencies and taxpayers.
Changing statutory place names risks legal uncertainty and invites litigation over program coverage and eligibility until courts or agencies interpret the new wording, imposing costs and delays for governments and beneficiaries.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires U.S. government materials and amended statutes to use “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank,” bars funds for using the old term except by waiver or treaty obligation.
Introduced February 4, 2025 by Thomas Bryant Cotton · Last progress February 4, 2025
Requires the U.S. government to stop using the geographic term “West Bank” in official U.S. materials and instead use the historical names “Judea and Samaria.” It prohibits spending to prepare or issue government products that use “West Bank,” changes references in multiple federal statutes to the new terminology, and allows the Secretary of State to waive the prohibition for U.S. interests with a 30‑day notice to Congress.