[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 384 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 384
To prohibit the use of materials that use the term ``West Bank'', and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 4, 2025
Mr. Cotton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of materials that use the term ``West Bank'', and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Retiring the Egregious Confusion
Over the Genuine Name of Israel's Zone of Influence by Necessitating
Government-use of Judea and Samaria Act'' or the ``RECOGNIZING Judea
and Samaria Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government--
(1) should refer to the land annexed by Israel from Jordan
during the 1967 Six-Day War by its historical names of ``Judea
and Samaria'', with the land south of Jerusalem being
considered ``Judea'' and the land north of Jerusalem being
considered ``Samaria''; and
(2) should no longer use the term ``West Bank'' in official
government materials.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON USE OF MATERIALS THAT USE THE TERM ``WEST
BANK''.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none
of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available
after the date of the enactment of this Act may be obligated or
expended to prepare or promulgate any policy, guidance, regulation,
notice, Executive order, materials, briefing, press release,
communications, or other work product that refers to Judea and Samaria
as the ``West Bank''.
(b) Exception.--The prohibition in this section shall not apply
with respect to the obligation or expenditure of funds relating to
obligations of the United States under international treaties or other
agreements.
(c) Waiver.--The Secretary of State may waive the prohibition in
this section if the Secretary--
(1) determines that is in the interests of the United
States to do so; and
(2) submits to Congress an explanation for the waiver not
later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary makes
the determination.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING CHANGES TO UNITED STATES LAW.
(a) Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.--The Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 is amended as follows:
(1) In section 620K(f)(3) (22 U.S.C. 2378b(f)(3)), by
striking ``the West Bank'' and inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
(2) In section 620L (22 U.S.C. 2378c)--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``the west
bank'' and inserting ``judea and samaria''; and
(B) by striking ``the West Bank'' each place it
appears and inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
(b) Taylor Force Act.--Section 1004 of the Taylor Force Act (22
U.S.C. 2378c-1) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``the west bank''
and inserting ``judea and samaria''; and
(2) by striking ``the West Bank'' each place it appears and
inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
(c) Multinational Force and Observers Participation Resolution.--
Section 2 of the Multinational Force and Observers Participation
Resolution (22 U.S.C. 3421) is amended by striking ``the West Bank''
and inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
(d) Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986.--
Section 414 of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of
1986 (22 U.S.C. 4862) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``west bank'' and
inserting ``judea and samaria''; and
(2) by striking ``the West Bank'' and inserting ``Judea and
Samaria''.
(e) United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of
1985.--Section 9 of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area
Implementation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-47; 19 U.S.C. 2112 note) is
amended by striking ``the West Bank'' each place it appears and
inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
(f) Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of
2007.--Section 2021(i) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) is amended by striking
``the West Bank'' and inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
(g) Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003.--Section
699 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003
(Public Law 107-228; 22 U.S.C. 2301 note) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``west bank'' and
inserting ``judea and samaria''; and
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``the West Bank'' and
inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
(h) Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act.--Section
8005 of the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act
(division K of Public Law 116-260) is amended by striking ``the West
Bank'' each place it appears and inserting ``Judea and Samaria''.
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