Bill Details
S.384 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-04 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced Date
2025-02-04
Policy Area
International Affairs
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (1)
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require the U.S. government to stop using the term “West Bank” in most official materials and instead use “Judea and Samaria.” It says Congress believes the U.S. should use those historical names for the area, and it would block federal funds from being used to create government policies, guidance, press releases, or other materials that call the area the “West Bank.” The bill also changes several existing laws so they use “Judea and Samaria” instead of “the West Bank,” while still allowing some exceptions for U.S. treaty or other agreement obligations and giving the Secretary of State limited power to waive the rule in the national interest.
- It states that land south of Jerusalem should be called “Judea” and land north of Jerusalem should be called “Samaria.”
- It bars federal money from being used for official government work products that refer to the area as the “West Bank.”
- There is an exception for obligations the United States has under international treaties or other agreements.
- The Secretary of State may waive the rule if it is in the U.S. interest, but must explain the waiver to Congress within 30 days.
Official Summaries
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
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to prepare or promulgate certain materials (including any policy, guidance, regulation, executive order, or other work products) that refer to Judea and Samaria as the West Bank. The prohibition does not apply to U.S. obligations under international treaties or other agreements.
The bill also amends certain laws to replace the term the West Bank with Judea and Samaria.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 384 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
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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