Summary#
The No United States Aid for Terrorism Act would create a new federal law; it does not amend a named existing Act. Its stated goal is to condition U.S. foreign assistance on actions by Palestinian governing entities. The bill is at an early stage and is not law.
- It would bar federal money from being used for direct U.S. assistance, loan guarantees, or debt relief to the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, other Palestinian governing entities, or international organizations that assist them.
- The President could lift this bill’s ban for a fiscal year by certifying that the Palestinian Authority or another Palestinian governing entity meets all six conditions, including recognizing Israel, renouncing terrorism, and honoring previous diplomatic agreements.
- Within 30 days after enactment, the Secretary of State, working with two State Department offices, must report to specified congressional committees on human rights practices, U.S. actions, intended uses of U.S. assistance, and relevant international organizations.
- The bill says it does not repeal or weaken other federal laws restricting assistance to these entities.
What it means for you#
- U.S. taxpayers: If enacted, the bill would restrict how federal assistance can be provided to the listed recipients. The bill does not set a new tax or benefit.
- Palestinian governing entities: They would be subject to the aid ban unless the President makes the required certification for that fiscal year. “Palestinian governing entity” includes the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, their government bodies, and other Palestinian entities exercising governmental or administrative authority in any part of the West Bank or Gaza.
- International organizations: An organization that provides assistance of any kind to a Palestinian governing entity would itself be covered by the ban on direct U.S. assistance, loan guarantees, or debt relief.
- State Department: The Secretary of State must prepare and submit the report within 30 days after enactment. The bill does not require that report to be released publicly.
- People who receive aid: The bill does not directly change individual eligibility for aid, but it could affect assistance delivered through covered entities or organizations. The text does not specify how any such effects would be handled.
Money#
No cost estimate is provided in the available material.
- The bill does not appropriate money or state a dollar amount for assistance.
- It would restrict the listed forms of U.S. assistance unless the President certifies that the conditions are met.
- The required report would take staff time, but the bill gives no estimate of staffing or cost.
What is unclear#
- The bill does not define terms such as “terrorist ties,” “incitement,” or “honored previous diplomatic agreements,” or explain how the six conditions would be assessed.
- It does not set out what evidence the President must use, or a process or deadline for making the certification beyond requiring it during the fiscal year.
- “Assistance of any kind” by an international organization is broad; the bill does not explain how it would apply when U.S. support to that organization is not directed to Palestinian entities.
- The bill provides no exception for humanitarian assistance.
- The parent laws and current assistance arrangements were not supplied, so their details and the bill’s full interaction with them could not be verified. The bill says existing legal restrictions remain in place.
- No publicly available information on the bill’s likely effects on aid recipients or international organizations is included in the supplied material.
Case for#
- The bill appears intended to prevent U.S. assistance from reaching governing entities that have not met stated conditions.
- Requiring recognition of Israel, renunciation of terrorism, and action on incitement makes continued assistance depend on specific political and security steps.
- The required report could give Congress a fuller account of alleged human rights abuses, U.S. actions, and planned uses of assistance.
Case against#
- The ban also covers U.S. assistance to international organizations that provide any kind of assistance to a covered entity. That could restrict support to those organizations even when the U.S. funds are not directed to that entity.
- The bill does not provide a humanitarian exception, so it is unclear how the ban would affect assistance delivered through covered organizations.
- Several certification conditions are undefined, leaving unclear how compliance would be judged and how predictable the exception would be.