INTRODUCTION OF THE UNRWA FUNDING EMERGENCY RESTORATION ACT OF 2024

On 2024-09-18, Representative André Carson (D-IN-7) delivered a floor speech titled "INTRODUCTION OF THE UNRWA FUNDING EMERGENCY RESTORATION ACT OF 2024" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered healthcare, the environment. It referenced legislation: S2.

INTRODUCTION OF THE UNRWA FUNDING EMERGENCY RESTORATION ACT OF 2024

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E913] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] INTRODUCTION OF THE UNRWA FUNDING EMERGENCY RESTORATION ACT OF 2024 ______ HON. ANDRE CARSON of indiana in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 18, 2024 Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I am both pleased and saddened to introduce a bill that helps relieve the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Palestine. I thank my colleagues Representatives Jayapal and Schakowsky for joining me as co-leads, with 65 original cosponsors and over 100 national organization endorsements. This important bill will: (1) Repeal the funding prohibitions on UNRWA included in the FY24 Appropriations bill and the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024; (2) Express a Sense of Congress that it supports appropriating critical funds to UNRWA for FY25; (3) Urge the Secretary of State, as soon as practicable, to rescind the temporary pause in funding for UNRWA and resume funding to UNRWA under current authorities of the Department of State; and (4) Require the Secretary of State to report to Congress on a quarterly basis on the steps UNRWA is taking to implement the recommendations contained in the independent outside review of the Agency's neutrality mechanisms and procedures. House-passed bills prohibiting UNRWA funding significantly erodes the United States' ability to provide life-saving assistance and basic services to Gaza's 2.2 million people. To date, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and about 100,000 more have been seriously injured without access to functioning hospitals. Among the victims of this catastrophe are women and children. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), over 150,000 pregnant women and new mothers are struggling to survive and access basic health care. Women in Gaza today are birthing children and having cesarean sections with no anesthesia. In addition, an estimated 700,000 women and girls in Gaza who require menstrual hygiene supplies are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in dignity, with some reports of contraceptive pills being taken to avoid the unhygienic menstrual conditions. Today, the fear of polio in children spreads across Gaza through fecal matter, limited clean drinking water, and destroyed infrastructure. Additionally, since October 7, thousands of Palestinian children have had one or both arms or legs amputated--without anesthesia. I want to reiterate--without anesthesia. We must prioritize addressing the humanitarian crisis and catastrophe in Gaza. UNRWA serves nearly six million Palestinian refugees across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon and is the primary humanitarian aid organization operating in Gaza. The U.S. has historically been one of the largest financial supporters of UNRWA but paused funding following allegations by the Government of Israel that 12 Agency employees had direct involvement in the October 7 terrorist attack. Following these allegations, the United Nations (UN) and UNRWA acted swiftly and decisively, immediately terminating the employees allegedly involved, ordering an independent outside review of the Agency's neutrality practices, and directing a review of the allegations by the UN's highest investigative body, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). The outside review of UNRWA neutrality, led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, concluded UNRWA has robust, well-developed internal mechanisms and that it possesses a more developed approach to neutrality than other similar UN or NGO entities. The review also identified steps the Agency can take to further ensure its commitment to neutrality. UNRWA welcomed the report and stated it is ``fully committed'' to implementing its recommendations. An American, UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Antonia De Meo, is leading the implementation effort. Just last month a donor review of UNRWA operations, funded in part by the U.S., concluded, ``The Agency's ability to deliver education, health, and social services at scale to one of the world's most vulnerable populations is unparalleled.'' Following the UN's investigation and proactive commitments made by UNRWA toward complete accountability and reform, nearly all countries have resumed UNRWA funding including the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, and Sweden. Only the U.S. has failed to restore this essential funding. International humanitarian NGOs and the major United Nations humanitarian organizations have made it clear that given UNRWA's role as the backbone of the humanitarian response, it is imperative that funding be restored and maintained to the Agency. These statements are especially relevant considering several of these humanitarian organizations would be required to drastically scale up their efforts at an impossible speed and scope to attempt to fill the humanitarian void that would be created should UNRWA cease to operate. Additionally, the U.S. joined 118 UN Member States in signing the Joint Commitments Initiative to Support UNRWA which stated that ``UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza and recognizing that no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA's capacity.'' If we fail to act now, this escalating humanitarian crisis will only grow worse in Gaza, and further exacerbate tensions across the Middle East. It is in the strategic interest of both the U.S. and our allies, including Israel and Jordan, to resume and maintain full funding to UNRWA to stabilize the region and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe that no other organization or agency will be able to effectively address. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill to save lives and provide desperately needed humanitarian aid. ____________________