Palestinian Accountability Act - Prohibits any U.S. government document from referring to the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) as Palestine until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the PA: (1) does not inappropriately influence elections in PA-contolled areas; (2) is promoting human rights and ending government corruption; (3) has taken steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructures and arrest terrorists, control Palestinian security organizations, and end the incitement to violence and hatred in the Palestinian media, educational institutions, and mosques; (4) has ceased to participate in any boycott of Israel; (5) works with Israel to implement the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict of 2003 (the Roadmap to Peace); (6) recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state; and (7) has excluded Hamas from participating in a unity government or has required Hamas to publicly support such requirements.
Prohibits certain Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 funds from being made available to the PA unless: (1) a U.S. nongovernmental or private entity audits the PA budget and the Secretary submits the audit to Congress, and (2) the Secretary certifies to Congress that the PA meets specified requirements.
Prohibits funds from being obligated or expended for U.S. contributions to the United Nations (U.N.) if the U.N. or any U.N. entity recognizes statehood for the Palestinian territories unless the Secretary certifies to Congress that the PA meets specified requirements.
Prohibits funds from from being obligated or expended for U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) unless: (1) a U.S. nongovernmental or private entity audits the UNRWA budget and the Secretary submits the audit to Congress, and (2) the Secretary certifies to Congress that UNRWA meets specified requirements.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2457 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2457
To restrict funds for the Palestinian Authority, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 7, 2011
Mr. Walsh of Illinois (for himself, Mr. Rooney, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia,
Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Pitts, Mr.
Westmoreland, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. West, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Rogers of
Alabama, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Canseco, Mr. Gohmert, Mr.
Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Long, Mr. Franks of
Arizona, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Harris, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Scott
of South Carolina, Mr. Kline, and Mr. Olson) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To restrict funds for the Palestinian Authority, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Palestinian Accountability Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF THE TERM ``PALESTINE'' IN UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.
(a) In General.--No United States Government document may refer to
the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority as ``Palestine''
until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the Palestinian
Authority, at a minimum--
(1) does not manipulate or inappropriately influence in any
way the outcome of presidential or legislative elections in
areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority;
(2) is advancing democratic ideals by actively promoting
human rights and ending government corruption through increased
efficiency and transparency in all government agencies and
initiatives;
(3) regularly and strongly condemns terrorism;
(4) has taken, and plans to continue to take, tangible
steps to disavow terrorism, dismantle terrorist
infrastructures, confiscate unauthorized weapons, arrest and
bring terrorists to justice, consolidate and control the
Palestinian security organizations, and end the incitement to
violence and hatred in the Palestinian media, educational
institutions, mosques, and other institutions;
(5) has ceased to participate in any economic, educational,
cultural, or other boycott of Israel, its citizens, its
products, or its services;
(6) has worked, and plans to continue to work, actively
with the Government of Israel to implement the steps and adhere
to the principles set out in the Performance-Based Roadmap to a
Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict of 2003 (commonly referred to as the ``Roadmap to
Peace'') (or any successor to such) to bring security, peace,
and reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians;
(7) recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state
and conducts diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in
the same manner and to the same extent as it conducts
diplomatic relations with any other country; and
(8) has either excluded Hamas from participating in a unity
government or, if not, has required Hamas to explicitly and
publicly support the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (7) of
this subsection.
(b) Nonwaivability.--The prohibition under subsection (a) may not
be waived for any purpose.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES FUNDS TO THE PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--No funds available to any United States Government
department or agency to carry out the provisions of chapter 4 of part
II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for any fiscal year may be
obligated or expended with respect to providing funds to the
Palestinian Authority unless with respect to such fiscal year--
(1) an independent audit of the budget of the Palestinian
Authority is conducted by a United States nongovernmental or
private organization or entity and the Secretary of State
submits the audit to Congress; and
(2) the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the
Palestinian Authority, at a minimum, meets the requirements of
paragraphs (1) to (8) of section 2(a) of this Act.
(b) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act and applies with respect to funds available for
fiscal year 2012 and subsequent fiscal years.
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED
NATIONS.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in section 5, no funds
available to any United States Government department or agency for any
fiscal year may be obligated or expended with respect to making
contributions to the United Nations if the United Nations or any United
Nations entity declares or recognizes statehood for the Palestinian
territories unless with respect to such fiscal year the Secretary of
State certifies to Congress that the Palestinian Authority, at a
minimum, meets the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (8) of section
2(a) of this Act.
(b) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act and applies with respect to funds available for
fiscal year 2012 and subsequent fiscal years.
SEC. 5. PROHIBITION ON UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNRWA.
(a) In General.--No funds available to any United States Government
department or agency for any fiscal year may be obligated or expended
with respect to making contributions to the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) unless
with respect to such fiscal year--
(1) an independent audit of the budget of UNRWA is
conducted by a United States nongovernmental or private
organization or entity and the Secretary of State submits the
audit to Congress; and
(2) the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that
UNRWA, at a minimum, meets the requirements applicable to the
Palestinian Authority under paragraphs (1) to (3), (5), and (7)
of section 2(a) of this Act, except that for purposes of
meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) of such section, the
term ``Palestinian Authority'' shall be deemed to be ``UNRWA''.
(b) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act and applies with respect to funds available for
fiscal year 2012 and subsequent fiscal years.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia .
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