Ricketts Bill Would “Ensure American Taxpayer Dollars Do Not Enable Hamas”
November 1, 2023
Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) called on Congress to pass his Stop Support for Hamas Act to prevent American tax dollars from enabling Hamas terrorism against Israel. Ricketts made the comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media.
“Hamas is a known terrorist organization. It has proven it will kill Israelis and Americans,” Ricketts said. “As America stands with Israel, we must take steps to ensure American taxpayer dollars do not enable Hamas. My Stop Support for Hamas Act would do just that.”
“For years, Hamas has stolen and abused international aid to Gaza…” Ricketts said. “One of the things my bill does is end aid to UNRWA, the United Nations group that is operating in Gaza. They’ve been described as effectively being ‘a branch of Hamas.’ UNRWA has been caught storing weapons in its facilities and glorifying terrorism in its schools. UNRWA shouldn’t receive a cent of American taxpayer dollars. President Trump knew this and ended aid to them. Unbelievably, President Biden reversed that policy. He’s given UNRWA more than $730 million since taking office. My bill puts a stop to that.”
For more information about the Stop Support for Hamas Act, introduced yesterday by Ricketts with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), click HERE.
Watch the video HERE.
TRANSCRIPT:
Senator Ricketts: “On October 7th, the entire world witnessed a horrible atrocity.
“The barbarism and inhumanity of Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel were sick and evil.
“As Israel fights to eliminate Hamas, America must stand with them.
“Part of this will involve direct aid to Israel.
“But it also means we need to stop the funding that enables Hamas’ terror.
“For years, Hamas has stolen and abused international aid to Gaza.
“Yesterday, I introduced the Stop Support for Hamas Act with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
“Our bill would end American taxpayer funding that enables Hamas’ barbarism.
“One of the things my bill does is end aid to UNRWA, the United Nations group that is operating in Gaza.
“They’ve been described as effectively being ‘a branch of Hamas.’
“UNRWA has been caught storing weapons in its facilities and glorifying terrorism in its schools.
“UNRWA shouldn’t receive a cent of American taxpayer dollars.
“President Trump knew this and ended aid to them.
“Unbelievably, President Biden reversed that policy.
“He’s given UNRWA more than $730 million since taking office.
“My bill puts a stop to that.
“It also cracks down on the Palestinian Authority.
“We know the Palestinian Authority still has Hamas members in its ranks.
“One of the October 7th terrorists had a paycheck from the Palestinian Authority Interior Ministry.
“My bill prohibits the PA aid unless we can certify that no Palestinian Authority ministries or agencies are employing Hamas members or agents.
“My bill also strengthens the prohibition of U.S. assistance to the PA until it ends its ‘pay to slay’ or what they call their ‘martyr payment’ program.
“This is when the PA gives money to families of Palestinian terrorists who are jailed or killed attacking innocent Israeli citizens.
“Finally, my bill would freeze Economic Support Funds to Gaza and the West Bank until Israel has dismantled the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas in Gaza.
“It makes no sense to provide this kind of assistance while Israel is fighting a war to defeat Hamas there.
“Hamas is a known terrorist organization.
“It has proven it will kill Israelis and Americans.
“As America stands with Israel, we must take steps to ensure American taxpayer dollars do not enable Hamas.
“My Stop Support for Hamas Act would do just that.”