Sponsors (11)
The bill seeks to stop direct U.S. funding to UNRWA and increase State Department certification and redirection of humanitarian aid — trading reduced support for a controversial UN agency and tighter oversight against risks of reduced or delayed services to refugees, higher burdens on NGOs, strained diplomatic ties, and potential free-expression concerns.
Taxpayers: Stops direct U.S. contributions to UNRWA, reducing federal funding flows to that specific international agency.
Low-income individuals and people served by UNRWA: Preserves the ability to fund humanitarian assistance for those populations by redirecting or permitting funding to vetted alternative agencies.
U.S. government oversight and congressional stakeholders: Requires the Secretary of State to certify that certain criteria are met before funds flow, increasing diplomatic oversight and congressional visibility into where U.S. humanitarian funds are used.
Palestinian refugees and communities served by UNRWA: May lose or see reductions in services (education, health, food assistance) if direct U.S. support to UNRWA is cut.
People relying on timely humanitarian aid: New certification requirements could delay or block urgent assistance that was previously delivered through UNRWA.
Nonprofit organizations and humanitarian intermediaries: Could face increased administrative burden, uncertainty, and barriers to obtaining U.S. funding when operating with or alongside UNRWA.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits U.S. voluntary and assessed contributions to UNRWA and allows indirect humanitarian aid only with State Department certification that partners are not affiliated with violence, terrorism, or antisemitism.
Official title: To prohibit contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 23, 2026 by Christopher Henry Smith · Last progress July 23, 2026
Prohibits the United States from making any voluntary or assessed contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It allows the U.S. to provide humanitarian assistance to recipients who receive UNRWA aid indirectly only when the Secretary of State certifies those recipients do not promote or affiliate with persons or groups that promote violence, terrorism, or antisemitism as defined by the IHRA working definition.