Crapo Joins Colleagues Introducing NOPE Act to Cut Off U.S. Funding to UN if PA Receives More Privileges

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined 24 Senate colleagues in introducing the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act, to update existing funding prohibitions in law that would cause the United States to cut off assistance to entities that give additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority. 

The legislation is led by Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  The NOPE Act is also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahama) and John Thune (R-South Dakota).

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

Background:

On Friday, May 10, 2024, the Palestinian Authority will pursue a vote in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to enhance its current status at the UN.  This enhanced status may fall short of full membership, but it would include numerous rights and privileges that previously have only been granted to full members.

Current U.S. law prohibits U.S. funding to organizations, such as the UN, which give the PLO full membership or standing as a member state.  The NOPE Act updates the existing funding prohibition to organizations that offer the PLO “any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status.