WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Rick Scott joined Senators Jim Risch and Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, Bill Cassidy, Dan Sullivan, Steve Daines, Mike Lee, Kevin Cramer, John Barrasso, Pete Ricketts, Eric Schmitt, John Kennedy, Mike Crapo, Roger Wicker, Shelley Moore Capito, Marco Rubio, Joni Ernst, Ron Johnson, Markwayne Mullin, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, Susan Collins, Tim Scott, Josh Hawley, James Lankford, John Thune and Deb Fischer to announce their intent to introduce the Stand with Israel Act when the Senate and House reconvene in November. This legislation would cut off U.S. funding to United Nations (UN) agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. This is companion legislation to bipartisan House bill HR 9394 led by Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).

Senator Rick Scott said, “Unfortunately, the UN has lost almost all credibility on human rights. They coddle regimes like Iran while allowing the extremists to condemn Israel, and it is absurd that U.S. taxpayer dollars are helping fund this dysfunctional organization. The U.S. must stand with Israel and Congress must make that clear by passing this commonsense bill.”

Senator Jim Risch said, “Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the UN is clearly anti-Semitic. That said, if the UN member states allow the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN, the U.S. must stop supporting the UN system, as it would clearly be beyond repair. I am disgusted that this outrageous idea has even been discussed, and will do all we can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences.”

Senator Tom Cotton said, “A move to downgrade Israel’s status at the United Nations would be a new low, even for an organization that is as rife with antisemites as the UN. Any attempt to alter Israel’s status at the behest of the terrorist-affiliated Palestine Liberation Organization will be met with severe consequences.”

Senator Chuck Grassley said, “As the historic homeland of the Jewish people, the only democracy in the Middle East and a cherished ally of the United States, Israel’s membership status in the UN shouldn’t be up for debate. The United States is the UN’s largest financial backer; any antisemitic attempt to downgrade Israel’s status ought to be met with severe and immediate consequences by cutting off U.S. funding.”

Senator Bill Cassidy said, “The United States will not stand for antisemitism at home or on the world stage. Anyone who attempts to restrict or reduce Israel’s status at the UN should bear a heavy cost.” 

Senator Dan Sullivan said, “As Israel continues to fight for its existence, this legislation sends a critically important message that the United States stands firm in its support for Israel. Unfortunately, antisemitism has pervaded the United Nations for decades and discredits the U.N. mission. It must end. I recently raised this with the U.N. Secretary General and our U.S. ambassador to the U.N.. Not only should the U.N. continue to allow for the full participation of Israel, but the U.N. should also designate Iran-backed Hamas a terrorist organization and fully condemn Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks.”

Senator Steve Daines said, “Israel has long been a beacon of democracy in the Middle East and it’s outrageous that the United Nations would discriminate against Israel or even consider its expulsion I am proud to support the “Stand with Israel Act” because the United States now more than ever must support Israel.”

Senator Mike Lee said, “The United Nations has become a safe haven for anti-Semitic actors. Any attempt to downgrade Israel's status is a deliberate act of hostility aimed at undermining their right to exist. The U.S. must send a clear message: we will not fund or support agencies that tolerate such disgraceful actions. I am fully committed to ensuring that there are significant consequences for this blatant bias against Israel.”

Senator Kevin Cramer said, “The United States must unequivocally support Israel’s right to defend itself. If the United Nations moves to expel, downgrade, suspend, or restrict Israel’s participation in any way, it should not receive a cent from the American taxpayer. We have to stand by our strongest ally in the Middle East and really push back against these deliberate, antisemitic attempts to punish Israel for simply defending its own existence.”

Senator Jon Barrasso said, “America must stand with Israel, one of our strongest allies. The United States must use all of our influence and resources to protect the status of Israel at the United Nations (UN). The Palestinian Authority’s efforts to downgrade Israel will be met with serious and substantial consequences. UN agencies that restrict Israel’s participation should not receive American tax dollars.”

Senator Pete Ricketts said, “The United States will not stand by and allow the rampant antisemitism at the United Nations to go unchallenged. Downgrading Israel’s membership at the UN should be seen as an attack on an American ally. Should the UN EMBRACE THIS DIPLOMATIC TERRORISM, the United States will respond accordingly and must end it’s support for the UN system.”

Senator John Kennedy said, “The U.N. has failed to pass any resolution to condemn the October 7 terrorists, yet the Palestinian delegation has tried to delegitimize Israel by introducing radical resolutions. Even though the U.N.’s policies often run against American interests, we remain its biggest funder. We shouldn’t send American tax dollars to groups that demonize our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East while elevating terrorist-sympathizers and the Palestinian Authority.”

Senator Mike Crapo said, “Israel’s enemies are trying to manipulate the United Nations to accomplish their misguided goals.  Any moves by the United Nations to restrict Israel’s participation would conflict with American values and global interests.  American taxpayers should have no part in funding international bodies that threaten the diplomatic security of our ally.”

Senator Shelley Moore Capito said, “The UN and its agencies have increasingly become a platform for anti-Israel forces to target the world’s only Jewish state. At the same time, countries like Iran and Russia have been free to maintain their status while launching ballistic missiles at their neighbors. If this ridiculous project to downgrade the membership of Israel—a free, democratic country and rightful member state—moves forward in the UN, the U.S. has no choice but to finally withdraw all support from a failed institution.”

Senator Marco Rubio said, “The United Nations weakens its credibility by giving credence to the Palestinian Authority’s antisemitic initiatives. Such outrageous actions do nothing to advance peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Time and time again, the United Nations has insulted the democratic Jewish State of Israel and its citizens with outlandish claims. It’s simple: America should not fund any organization that upholds anti-Jewish hatred and undermines our strongest ally in the Middle East.”

Senator Joni Ernst said, “As Israel is under attack on all fronts, the UN is shamefully considering supporting efforts by Iran and its proxy terror groups to delegitimize the Jewish state. This undermines its credibility and so-called commitment to peace and security. We cannot allow taxpayer dollars to fund an entity, like the UN, that chooses terrorists over Israel while it is in a fight for its life.”

Senator Ron Johnson said, “Israel is doing exactly what America would do – defend itself from brutal terrorists. The fact that this effort to downgrade Israel’s status in the UN is even under consideration casts doubt on the legitimacy of the entire UN system and is an unacceptable betrayal of America’s principal ally in the Middle East.”

Senator Markwayne Mullin said, “The United States must end funding to the UN if they cave to the Palestinian Authority and downgrade or restrict the State of Israel’s participation in any way. Senate Republicans will not allow American taxpayer dollars to fund organizations that undermine the authority and autonomy of the only democracy in the Middle East. I’m glad to support this common sense legislation.”

Senator Ted Budd said, “The world needs to stand on the side of Israel as it eliminates the terrorist threat from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. If an international body like the United Nations allows the Palestinian Authority and the PLO to downgrade Israel’s UN status, then the United States should cease its financial support of the organization.”

Senator Susan Collins said, “Any attempt to diminish Israel’s status at the United Nations must be met with forceful condemnation by the United States. Congress has continually supported Israel’s right to self-defense, and this bill will reaffirm that right while also providing the United States the ability to punish UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel.”

Senator Josh Hawley said, “Unelected bureaucrats at the UN have no business downgrading Israel’s status anywhere, and the United States must not stand idly by while it happens. This legislation would help cut off U.S. taxpayer dollars that UN globalists use to silence one of America’s greatest allies—because now, more than ever, the United States must stand with Israel.”

Senator James Lankford said, “Israel deserves to have the world’s full support in their defense against unspeakable terrorism. Our greatest ally in the Middle East has faced vicious attacks since their founding in 1948, but the latest all-out assault from the Iranian regime and their terrorist proxies intends to wipe Israel off the map. I will not walk away from Israel as the world tries to justify terrorism.”

Senator John Thune said, “Attempts to weaken Israel's standing on the world stage will continue to be met with unwavering opposition. The United States stands firmly with Israel as it fights to defend itself, and I'm grateful to Sen. Risch for leading this effort to ensure there’s accountability if Israel’s membership at any UN entity is downgraded or restricted in any way.”

BACKGROUND:

• Reports indicate that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will attempt to downgrade Israel’s status at the UN.
• The PA is able to do this after the UN General Assembly passed a biased resolution which enhanced the PA’s status at the United Nations on May 10, 2024.
• Following that vote, Ranking Member Risch led 24 Senate colleagues in introducing the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act, legislation 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 Stand with Israel Act would cut off U.S. funding to UN agencies that expel, downgrade, suspend, or otherwise restrict the participation of the State of Israel. The bill is modeled after the current prohibition of funding to any UN entities that elevate the status of the Palestinian Authority to a member state. 

Text of the Stand with Israel Act can be found here.

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