Congress·In Committee·H.R. 2411

Rep. Carson and House Democrats Introduce Bill to Restore Funding for Palestinian Aid Agency UNRWA

UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025

12 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

This bill would restart U.S. funding for UNRWA, the United Nations agency that provides food, water, education, and medical care to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
From policy text
“reaffirms the imperative of UNRWA's continued provision of humanitarian and human development services to Palestinian refugees in all its current fields of operation, including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem)”
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The bill would repeal two existing laws that blocked UNRWA funding and would require the president to rescind a February 2025 executive order that withdrew the U.S. from funding certain UN organizations.
From policy text
“the President shall rescind the Executive order entitled ``Withdrawing the United States From and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations'' of February 4, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg. 9275)”
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Supporters say UNRWA is uniquely positioned to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly famine and disease, and that restoring funding serves U.S. strategic and moral interests.
From policy text
“supports UNRWA's unique and indispensable contribution to immediately addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, especially in mitigating and stopping the spread of famine and disease”
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To address accountability concerns, the bill requires the State Department to report to Congress every 90 days on UNRWA's progress implementing reforms recommended by an independent review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
From policy text
“Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter through December 31, 2028, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees of jurisdiction a report on the steps UNRWA is taking to implement any recommendations made by the independent outside review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.”
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The bill urges the Israeli government to help UNRWA maintain its neutrality by sharing names and evidence related to staff who may have violated the agency's rules.
From policy text
“urges the Government of Israel to assist UNRWA in its neutrality efforts by providing names, information, and evidence UNRWA can use to aggressively pursue allegations related to staff violations of UNRWA's neutrality policies”
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National Security Foreign Policy

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Mar 27, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mar 27, 2025

Introduced in House

Related News

2 articles

PBS News·2 months ago

U.S. will leave 66 international organizations as Trump further retreats from global cooperation

The Trump administration expanded its retreat from international bodies by withdrawing from 66 organizations. The report notes that this follows the earlier suspension of support for UNRWA, which the administration claims operates contrary to U.S. national interests.

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Times of Israel·almost 2 years ago

Israel lauds US ban on UNRWA financing until 2025 under new government funding bill

Provides critical context for the 2025 Restoration Act by detailing the initial legislative ban passed in March 2024. The ban prohibited funding through March 2025, a decision the Restoration Act specifically seeks to reverse to address the deepening humanitarian crisis.

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