# 119-s-898: UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025

119-s-898, UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT); status introduced (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-898
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-898
- Congress: 119
- Title: UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-06
- Sponsor: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Restoring U.S. funding to UNRWA** to revive humanitarian support for Palestinian refugees and address urgent needs in Gaza. The bill would repeal recent statutory bans, require the President to rescind a withdrawal Executive order, and direct the Secretary of State to resume U.S. support under existing authorities as soon as practicable. - Families and refugees: Would enable UNRWA to continue lifesaving humanitarian and human development services for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. - U.S. foreign policy and aid delivery: Would repeal two specific legal prohibitions and instruct the Secretary of State to restart funding quickly under current authorities. - Oversight and accountability: Would require the Secretary of State to report to congressional committees within 90 days and then quarterly through December 31, 2028 on steps UNRWA is taking to implement the Independent Review Group recommendations led by Catherine Colonna. - Diplomacy and funding support: Expresses congressional calls for Israel and the United States to help UNRWA implement neutrality reforms, urges the President to coordinate with allies on restoring funding, and supports appropriating funds for fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Quarterly reports on UNRWA reforms: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of State to report to Congress not later than 90 days after enactment. The State Department would then send reports every three months through December 31, 2028. Each report must describe steps UNRWA is taking to implement the Independent Review Grou…
- Resume U.S. aid to UNRWA: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would repeal specific laws that barred U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). It would also require the President to rescind the February 4, 2025 Executive Order withdrawing U.S. support for some U.N. organizations. The Secretary of State would be d…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-898 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/898)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-898 (as of 2025-12-21).