Ricketts Introduces NOPE Act to Cut Off U.S. Funding to UN if Palestinian Authority Receives More Privileges

May 10, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement ahead of today’s United Nations General Assembly vote to give the Palestinian Authority de-facto membership status:

“UN may as well stand for Unhinged Nutjobs at this point,” said Ricketts. “The United Nations’ rampant antisemitism and open embrace of dictators and Hamas sympathizers is reprehensible. The NOPE Act I introduced with Senator Risch will end U.S. funding for the UN if the General Assembly passes this ridiculous vote.”

The No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act would 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 was introduced by U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In addition to Risch and Ricketts, the NOPE Act is also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Todd Young (R-IN), Mitt Romney (R-UT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and John Thune (R-SD).

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

BACKGROUND:

On Friday, May 10th, 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.