Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARSON. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition of the Perry amendment No. 74, which prohibits any funds from being made available for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) through the FY 24 Appropriations for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs). The subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations has, in a bipartisan manner, supported the Biden Administration's decision to reengage with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), including its inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2023 bill of additional funding from previous years for food assistance to refugees in the West Bank and Gaza. It is imperative that we put aside political agendas and instead make policy-based decisions that benefit our national security and humanitarian core values.

Like other reengagements with the United Nations (UN) system, the Department of State's strategic partnership with UNRWA is clearly demonstrating the benefits of U.S. financial support. Earlier this year, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield told UN Security Council members, ``At this moment of heightened tensions, we must be sure to support UNRWA, which serves as a lifeline to Palestinians and plays an important stabilizing role in the region.'' Four out of the Agency's five fields of operation are in crisis: ranging from the aftermaths of a terrible natural disaster, a seriously deteriorating security situation, and unprecedented financial and economic collapse. Continuing UNRWA's life-saving humanitarian and human development mission on behalf of Palestinian refugees requires more, not less U.S. support.

This cruel amendment deprives innocent people of food, healthcare, and education. It robs refugees of any hope for a better life for them and their children. Unfortunately, Mr. Chair, when I make the argument for Palestinian existence and basic human rights, it's sadly not compelling enough for some Members, so let me also make the case from a national security perspective. This amendment undermines our national security--not only for Palestinian stability, but also Israeli stability in the region.

Let's think Gaza: How is Israel safer if we choose to deliberately starve Palestinians or deny them healthcare? How is Israel safer when 300,000 girls and boys are no longer in school? Ending the UNRWA mission in Gaza alone will result in recruitment by extremist groups among Gaza youth, who are already facing 70 percent unemployment. This is not a good amendment from any standpoint and for any party.

Let's think Lebanon: UNRWA educates 40,000 Lebanese girls and boys, its health system has almost 600,000 annual patient visits, and it aids the most desperately poor, living in a place where people give serious consideration to crossing the Mediterranean despite knowing the chances of surviving the trip are, at best, a coin flip.

Let's think Jordan: Our other ally, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which is comprised of approximately 50 percent Palestinian Jordanians, strongly supports the UNRWA mission and has taken a leadership role in trying to stabilize UNRWA's long-term financial situation.

Finally let's think Israel itself: Israeli security officials recently told the International Crisis Group that ``UNRWA's demise and the corresponding collapse in services would wreak havoc in the West Bank and Gaza, or--just as importantly for Israeli interests--in Jordan and Lebanon, presenting Israel with unprecedented new security challenges.''

Earlier this month, I led, with Senator Sanders, a bicameral letter signed by over 50 Members of Congress and Senators to Ranking Member Risch, calling for the release of his individual hold on previously appropriated and enacted funds to UNRWA for FY23. This abuse of congressional courtesy is unacceptable; no one Senator or Member should be able to indefinitely hold monies that we as a body have voted to appropriate. I not only call for an increase of funds to UNRWA for FY24, I strongly oppose the Perry No. 74 amendment, and I call on my colleague in the Senate to release the FY23 funds immediately.

The far-right attack on UNRWA is not evidence based. Instead, it will cause more instability. The United States, as a nation of refugees and immigrants, should be leading by example, and not voting to cruelly cut off desperately needed humanitarian assistance that UNRWA provides. I urge all my colleagues to vote against this dangerous proposal.

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