Michael Lawler
07/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/15/2026 08:56
Chairman Lawler Introduces Bill to Replace UNRWA with Accountable Humanitarian Assistance
Washington, D.C. - 7/15/26… This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) introduced the Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation requiring the State Department to develop a comprehensive strategy to work alongside our international partners to dismantle the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) while ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian assistance for civilians in need.
Specifically, this bill requires the State Department to submit to Congress a plan to dismantle UNRWA operations throughout the Middle East, identify qualified governments and international or non-governmental organizations to assume responsibility for the services UNRWA currently provides, and outline a detailed proposal for transitioning those services while ensuring continuity of critical humanitarian assistance. The plan must also include oversight measures to ensure successor organizations meet strict standards for neutrality, transparency, and accountability.
"UNRWA has repeatedly failed to meet the basic standards of accountability and neutrality that the international community should expect from any humanitarian organization. Credible reports have exposed serious failures within the agency, including employees with ties to terrorist organizations and educational materials that promote antisemitism and incite violence. Humanitarian aid must reach those who need it, not strengthen organizations that undermine peace and security. This legislation provides a responsible path to replace UNRWA with trustworthy partners while ensuring critical humanitarian assistance continues uninterrupted," said Chairman Lawler.
"Democrats and Republicans agree: we can't keep funneling money through an organization that teaches kids to hate and employs Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7th attack. That's why our bill requires a responsible, phased transition to replace UNRWA with accountable partners and makes sure aid reaches the people who need it. Aid should feed families, not fund terror," said Rep. Gottheimer.
"For decades, UNRWA has failed in its mission, and the status quo is simply not working. Following conversations with regional stakeholders, including the Christian Patriarchs in Jerusalem and Jordanian officials, regarding the stability of the region, I am convinced we need a new approach. Aid responsibilities need to be given to trusted partners who effectively deliver health care, education, and food, without lining the pockets of terrorist groups like Hamas. This legislation protects taxpayer dollars, advances our national security interests, and strengthens humanitarian efforts in the region," said Rep. French Hill (AR-02).
"UNRWA is a deeply compromised organization that is beyond any capability for reform. It's time for the U.S. to implement a serious plan to eliminate and replace UNRWA once and for all," said Deryn Sousa, Spokeswoman for AIPAC.
"JINSA is proud to endorse the "Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act." After decades of documented terror ties, radicalization, and corruption, UNRWA has forfeited any claim to serve as a credible humanitarian partner in the Middle East. Israeli intelligence assessments estimate over 10 percent of UNRWA's Gaza staff have ties to terror groups and roughly half have close family ties to them, underscoring UNRWA does not in good faith fulfill its goal of ameliorating the humanitarian situation of Gazans. As JINSA's Gaza Futures Task Force concluded in The Day After: A Plan for Gaza, UNRWA should be dismantled and replaced by alternative mechanisms that can accomplish that goal and facilitate a more stable and secure future for Gaza. This legislation takes the necessary step of requiring the State Department to chart that transition," said Matt Kenney, Vice President, Government Affairs, JINSA.
"UNRWA does not resettle refugees; UNRWA recruits refugees. How an organization continues to exist for over half a century, despite receiving billions of dollars from the American taxpayer, yet has not managed to resettle one single refugee is beyond me. Even if one were to pretend that UNRWA wasn't overrun with terrorists, many of whom had a direct hand in 10/7, by any metric UNRWA is an institutional failure and deserves to lie in the dustbin of history," said CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Hagee Parker.
"UNWRA has failed to achieve meaningful refugee assistance and resettlement as an organization. UNRWA has allowed itself to be coopted by terrorist groups that only seek the continuation of conflict and the destruction of Israel. UNRWA is beyond repair and the UN as a body is incapable of providing services and staff that are free from terrorist influence. FDD Action supports the Lawler/Gottheimer bill along with the dismantlement of UNRWA and the creation of alternative service providers for the Palestinian people that will meet the humanitarian needs of the moment and help build a civil society free of Hamas," said Tyler Stapleton, Senior Director of Government Relations, FDD Action.
In May 2026, Lawler led more than 90 Members of Congress in urging the Administration to dismantle UNRWA's operations and transition its responsibilities to credible, transparent organizations that are free of ties to terrorism while ensuring humanitarian assistance continues uninterrupted. The Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act codifies that effort by requiring the State Department to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve that transition.
The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Michael McCaul (TX-10), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Don Bacon (NE-02), Randy Fine (FL-06), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Nick LaLota (NY-01), August Pfluger (TX-11), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Ann Wagner (MO-02), Julie Fedorchak (ND-At large), Max Miller (OH-07), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Young Kim (CA-40), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), French Hill (AR-02), Darrell Issa (CA-48), and Craig Goldman (TX-12).
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.
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Specifically, this bill requires the State Department to submit to Congress a plan to dismantle UNRWA operations throughout the Middle East, identify qualified governments and international or non-governmental organizations to assume responsibility for the services UNRWA currently provides, and outline a detailed proposal for transitioning those services while ensuring continuity of critical humanitarian assistance. The plan must also include oversight measures to ensure successor organizations meet strict standards for neutrality, transparency, and accountability.
"UNRWA has repeatedly failed to meet the basic standards of accountability and neutrality that the international community should expect from any humanitarian organization. Credible reports have exposed serious failures within the agency, including employees with ties to terrorist organizations and educational materials that promote antisemitism and incite violence. Humanitarian aid must reach those who need it, not strengthen organizations that undermine peace and security. This legislation provides a responsible path to replace UNRWA with trustworthy partners while ensuring critical humanitarian assistance continues uninterrupted," said Chairman Lawler.
"Democrats and Republicans agree: we can't keep funneling money through an organization that teaches kids to hate and employs Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7th attack. That's why our bill requires a responsible, phased transition to replace UNRWA with accountable partners and makes sure aid reaches the people who need it. Aid should feed families, not fund terror," said Rep. Gottheimer.
"For decades, UNRWA has failed in its mission, and the status quo is simply not working. Following conversations with regional stakeholders, including the Christian Patriarchs in Jerusalem and Jordanian officials, regarding the stability of the region, I am convinced we need a new approach. Aid responsibilities need to be given to trusted partners who effectively deliver health care, education, and food, without lining the pockets of terrorist groups like Hamas. This legislation protects taxpayer dollars, advances our national security interests, and strengthens humanitarian efforts in the region," said Rep. French Hill (AR-02).
"UNRWA is a deeply compromised organization that is beyond any capability for reform. It's time for the U.S. to implement a serious plan to eliminate and replace UNRWA once and for all," said Deryn Sousa, Spokeswoman for AIPAC.
"JINSA is proud to endorse the "Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act." After decades of documented terror ties, radicalization, and corruption, UNRWA has forfeited any claim to serve as a credible humanitarian partner in the Middle East. Israeli intelligence assessments estimate over 10 percent of UNRWA's Gaza staff have ties to terror groups and roughly half have close family ties to them, underscoring UNRWA does not in good faith fulfill its goal of ameliorating the humanitarian situation of Gazans. As JINSA's Gaza Futures Task Force concluded in The Day After: A Plan for Gaza, UNRWA should be dismantled and replaced by alternative mechanisms that can accomplish that goal and facilitate a more stable and secure future for Gaza. This legislation takes the necessary step of requiring the State Department to chart that transition," said Matt Kenney, Vice President, Government Affairs, JINSA.
"UNRWA does not resettle refugees; UNRWA recruits refugees. How an organization continues to exist for over half a century, despite receiving billions of dollars from the American taxpayer, yet has not managed to resettle one single refugee is beyond me. Even if one were to pretend that UNRWA wasn't overrun with terrorists, many of whom had a direct hand in 10/7, by any metric UNRWA is an institutional failure and deserves to lie in the dustbin of history," said CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Hagee Parker.
"UNWRA has failed to achieve meaningful refugee assistance and resettlement as an organization. UNRWA has allowed itself to be coopted by terrorist groups that only seek the continuation of conflict and the destruction of Israel. UNRWA is beyond repair and the UN as a body is incapable of providing services and staff that are free from terrorist influence. FDD Action supports the Lawler/Gottheimer bill along with the dismantlement of UNRWA and the creation of alternative service providers for the Palestinian people that will meet the humanitarian needs of the moment and help build a civil society free of Hamas," said Tyler Stapleton, Senior Director of Government Relations, FDD Action.
In May 2026, Lawler led more than 90 Members of Congress in urging the Administration to dismantle UNRWA's operations and transition its responsibilities to credible, transparent organizations that are free of ties to terrorism while ensuring humanitarian assistance continues uninterrupted. The Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act codifies that effort by requiring the State Department to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve that transition.
The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Michael McCaul (TX-10), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Don Bacon (NE-02), Randy Fine (FL-06), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Nick LaLota (NY-01), August Pfluger (TX-11), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Ann Wagner (MO-02), Julie Fedorchak (ND-At large), Max Miller (OH-07), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Young Kim (CA-40), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), French Hill (AR-02), Darrell Issa (CA-48), and Craig Goldman (TX-12).
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.
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