Submitted by United States Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
WASHINGTON (May 10, 2024) – United States Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jim Risch (R-ID), and 23 colleagues introduced the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act, legislation to update existing funding prohibitions in law that would cause the United States to cut off assistance to entities that give additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority.
“We cannot allow the United Nations to unilaterally change the status of the Palestinian Authority. This is such a strong conviction that the U.S. will withhold funding from the UN should they proceed to do so,” said Dr. Cassidy.
“The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are deeply flawed, plagued by corruption, and incite terrorism through the egregious ‘pay for slay’ program. Giving the PLO a voice at the United Nations is preposterous and fails to account for the PLO’s role in inspiring generations of Palestinians to support acts of terror,” said Senator Risch. “This legislation will ensure taxpayer dollars are not used to give the PLO credibility.”
Cassidy and Risch are joined by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Todd Young (R-IN), Mitt Romney (R-UT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and John Thune (R-SD) in cosponsoring the NOPE Act.
Background
On Friday, May 10th, the Palestinian Authority will pursue a vote in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to enhance its current status at the UN. This enhanced status may fall short of full membership, but it would include numerous rights and privileges that previously have only been granted to full members.
Current U.S. law prohibits U.S. funding to organizations, such as the UN, which give the PLO full membership or standing as a member state. The NOPE Act updates the existing funding prohibition to organizations that offer the PLO any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status.
