WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging that any supplemental spending package brought to the Senate floor include an “immediate and permanent prohibition” on U.S. contributions to the United States National Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
This letter comes as a response to the disturbing announcement that UNRWA staff members participated in the Hamas attacks on October 7th , 2023. UNWRA has notably supported antisemitism. Currently, the State Department has paused additional funding for UNWRA while it reviews these allegations; however, Senator Tuberville does not believe this action goes far enough.
Coach Tuberville joined the letter led by Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), which was also signed by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Jim Risch (R-ID), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), John Hoeven (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Braun (R-ID), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Katie Britt (R-AL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Susan Collins (R-ME).
Read the full letter below or here.
BACKGROUND:
Senator Tuberville stands unequivocally with Israel and is horrified by the rise of antisemitism of the Left, especially on college campuses. As a former educator and coach, he believes that teachers and professors have a grave responsibility to provide moral clarity to their students. Coach Tuberville believes that the Hamas-backed terror attacks on innocent Israeli and American citizens are morally repugnant.
Senator Tuberville delivered a floor speech supporting Israel following the attacks.
In the wake of the terror attacks, Coach Tuberville joined legislation to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. Coach Tuberville also wrote an op-ed and sent a letter on the importance of separating Israel aid from Ukraine aid.
Coach Tuberville joined 31 other Republican senators in urging the Biden Administration to address growing antisemitism toward Jewish children in K-12 schools across the country. He also joined his Republican colleagues in raising concerns with the Biden Administration over the resurgence of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement on college campuses to economically harm Israel and threaten Israel’s right to exist as a nation.
Coach cosponsored the Revoke Iranian Funding Act to freeze the $6 billion in funding the Biden Administration released to Iran at the bank in Qatar where it is currently being held. This would ensure these dollars are not used by Iran to promote terrorism against Israel or any other nation.
Coach also cosponsored the Emergency Resupply for IRON DOME Act of 2023, a bill to authorize the Executive Branch to redirect U.S. foreign assistance away from Hamas-controlled Gaza and instead to help Israel replenish its Iron Dome, which has been highly effective in intercepting rockets and saving lives.
Coach also joined legislation to cut U.S. funds to the antisemitic United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The UNRWA has a history of employing individuals affiliated with Hamas, an Iranian-backed, U.S.- designated terrorist organization. Additionally, UNRWA schools have been used to store Hamas weapons and promote antisemitic education in their textbooks.
Coach also joined his colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to enforce existing law and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who endorse or espouse activity in support of Hamas or other Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).
Coach also joined at least thirty of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize rescuing American hostages that were taken by Hamas during its attacks on Israel and to support Israel’s efforts to wipe out Hamas.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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