Ernst Supports Effort to Prevent Taxpayer Funding of Iranian-Backed Terrorist Regime Hamas

WASHINGTON—After President Biden’s State Department admitted the possibility that American taxpayer dollars could go to fund Hamas terrorists through Palestinian aid, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) helped introduce legislation to ensure no Iowa taxpayer dollars will be authorized to the territory of Gaza until the President certifies to Congress that these funds can be spent without benefitting terrorist organizations. This follows the State Department’s announcement this week of $110 million in new economic assistance to Palestinians.

“Hamas is a terrorist organization with a stated goal of the destruction of Israel—our decades long ally and democratic partner. As I’ve said, the United States must be clear in our unwavering commitment to our ally Israel and that includes ensuring not a dime of hardworking taxpayer dollars goes to Hamas,” said Senator Ernst.

 

The Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act:

• Prohibits funds from being authorized for expenditure in the territory of Gaza until the president certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that U.S. funds can be expended without benefitting organizations and persons who are members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any other terrorist organization as identified by U.S. law, nor controlled or influenced by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any other terrorist organization as identified by U.S. law.
• Ensures U.S. funds are not authorized for expenditure in the territory of Gaza through any United Nations entity or office that the President cannot certify is not encouraging or teaching anti-Israel and anti-Semitic ideas and propaganda. 

 

Last week, Senator Ernst pledged her unequivocal support for Israel and slammed Hamas as an Iranian-backed and funded terrorist organization seeking to destroy one of our closest allies. She also supported a Senate resolution forcefully condemning the attacks against Israel by Hamas and reaffirming the United States’ unwavering commitment to our ally Israel and its right to take whatever means necessary to stop the murder of its citizens.