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III
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. RES. 171
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding restoring United States bilateral
assistance to the West Bank and Gaza.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
APRIL 11, 2019
Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. COONS, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms.
CORTEZ MASTO, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding restoring United
States bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza.
Whereas the dire health and economic conditions facing the
Palestinian people has created a humanitarian crisis in
the West Bank and Gaza. The United States has long
been a leader in helping address the plight of innocent
civilians;
Whereas these fragile conditions could contribute to cir-
cumstances that would undermine Israel’s security and
stability in the region;
Whereas the Palestinian Authority’s interpretation of the
Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (Public Law 115–253),
which sought to help United States victims of terrorism
abroad, led the Palestinian Authority to reject all forms
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•SRES 171 IS
of United States assistance, meaning that funding for or-
ganizations implementing humanitarian aid programs
that provide critical services, such as health care and
sanitation to civilians, cannot be carried out; and
Whereas the Department of State has failed to obligate any
of the funds Congress appropriated in fiscal year 2017
and fiscal year 2018, $302,750,000 and $257,500,000,
respectively, for bilateral assistance to the West Bank
and Gaza: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that—
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(1) the Executive branch should expend before
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the end of fiscal year 2019 all bilateral assistance to
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the West Bank and Gaza that Congress appro-
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priated for such assistance in fiscal year 2018, in-
5
cluding—
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(A) $196,500,000 for the Economic Sup-
7
port Fund;
8
(B) $60,000,000 for International Nar-
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cotics Control and Law Enforcement; and
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(C) $1,000,000 for Nonproliferation, Anti-
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Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs;
12
(2) programs and activities funded by the Eco-
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nomic Support Fund as described above are focused
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primarily on providing food, essential health services,
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and other humanitarian goods and services, and
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these expenditures must be consistent with the re-
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strictions and exceptions provided in the Taylor
18
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•SRES 171 IS
Force Act (title X of division S of Public Law 115–
1
141); and
2
(3) legislation should be enacted to clarify that
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programs and activities funded through the Eco-
4
nomic Support Fund and that are consistent with
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the Taylor Force Act (title X of division S of Public
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Law 115–141) may not be used as a basis to assert
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jurisdiction over the Palestinian Authority pursuant
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to the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act.
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Æ
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