Stand with Israel Act of 2026

Bill Number: H.R. 7018
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-01-12: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Last Updated: 2026-02-03T18:03:13Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Stand with Israel Act of 2026" (H.R. 7018) aims to restrict U.S. financial contributions to the United Nations (UN) in response to the illegal expulsion of Israel from the organization, thereby pressuring the UN to reverse such an action and reinforcing U.S. support for Israel's membership.

Key Provisions

Funding Limitation: Prohibits the use of any U.S. funds—whether voluntary contributions, grants, or assessed payments—for the UN or its agencies if Israel is expelled in violation of the UN Charter.
Reversal Requirement: The funding ban remains in effect until the expulsion is officially reversed by the UN.
Scope: Applies to funds allocated to the Department of State or any other federal agency.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends Section 115(b) of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (22 U.S.C. 287 note), which previously limited funding to the UN if any member nation (not specified to Israel) was expelled illegally.
Replaces the original second sentence of the section with new language that explicitly ties the funding restriction to Israel's expulsion and emphasizes reversal as the condition for resuming payments, broadening the focus to protect Israel's status specifically.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of State and other federal entities would be unable to disburse UN-related funds, potentially disrupting U.S. diplomatic operations, programs, and obligations within the UN system.
On Citizens: Minimal direct impact on U.S. citizens, though it could indirectly affect international aid, peacekeeping efforts, or global health initiatives funded through the UN that benefit Americans.
On International Relations: Could strain U.S.-UN ties, reduce U.S. influence in the organization, and provoke backlash from other member states; it signals strong U.S. commitment to Israel, potentially escalating tensions in Middle East diplomacy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

United States Government: Primarily the Department of State, which handles UN funding and foreign policy.
Israel: Benefits from protected status, as the bill ensures U.S. leverage to maintain its UN membership.
United Nations: Faces potential loss of significant U.S. financial support (the U.S. is the largest contributor, providing about 22% of the UN budget).
Other UN Member States: May experience ripple effects on UN operations, particularly those reliant on U.S. funding for joint initiatives.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens existing statutory mechanisms for conditioning foreign aid on international actions but could face challenges if deemed to infringe on the executive branch's foreign affairs powers under the U.S. Constitution (e.g., Article II, which grants the president authority over diplomacy).
Constitutional: Raises questions about Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 9) versus separation of powers, as it limits executive discretion in funding international organizations.
Political: Demonstrates bipartisan congressional support for Israel (introduced by Reps. Lawler and Moskowitz), potentially influencing U.S. foreign policy debates and alliances, but risks politicizing UN participation and isolating the U.S. in multilateral forums.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]

Recent Actions

2026-01-12: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2026-01-12: Introduced in House
2026-01-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Stand with Israel Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-12 — PDF (2 pages)