Mobile Courant

U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Jim Risch (R-ID), along with 23 other Senate colleagues, have introduced the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act. This legislation seeks to update existing funding prohibitions, providing the United States with the authority to cease assistance to entities that extend additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority.

The introduction of this legislation comes as the Palestinian Authority plans to seek a vote in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Friday, May 10. The goal is to enhance its current status at the UN by acquiring numerous rights and privileges previously granted only to full members.

Current U.S. law prohibits U.S. funding for organizations, such as the UN, which grant full membership or standing as a member state to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The NOPE Act aims to update this prohibition, extending it to organizations that offer the PLO "any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status."

The legislation has been co-introduced 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), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), 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), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Markwayne Mullin(R-OK) and John Thune(R-SD).

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.