S.Amdt. 95

SA 95. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Van
Hollen, and Ms. Cortez Masto) submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain
defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the
appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-
Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale
slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end, add the following:

TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 501. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES BILATERAL
ASSISTANCE TO THE WEST BANK AND GAZA.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The dire health and economic conditions facing the
Palestinian people has created a humanitarian crisis in the
West Bank and Gaza. The United States has long been a leader
in helping address the plight of innocent civilians.
(2) These fragile conditions could contribute to
circumstances that would undermine Israel's security and
stability in the region.
(3) The Department of State has failed to obligate any of
the funds Congress appropriated in fiscal year 2017 and
fiscal year 2018, $302,750,000 and $257,500,000,
respectively, for bilateral assistance to the West Bank and
Gaza.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Executive branch should expend during fiscal year
2019 for bilateral assistance to the West Bank and Gaza--
(A) $196,500,000 for the Economic Support Fund;
(B) $60,000,000 for International Narcotics Control and Law
Enforcement; and
(C) $1,000,000 for Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism,
Demining and Related Programs; and

[[Page S814]]

(2) this funding is focused primarily on providing food,
medical care, and other humanitarian goods and services and
these expenditures must be consistent with the restrictions
outlined in the Taylor Force Act (title X of division S of
Public Law 115-141) and shall only be provided through
nongovernmental organizations and shall not directly benefit
the Palestinian Authority.
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