Senator Scott Introduces Amendments to Bolster National Security, Prevent Terrorism

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced three amendments to the Ukraine-Israel-Taiwan funding package currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. The amendments would require border wall construction at the U.S.-Mexico border, abolish the antisemitic and terrorism-complicit United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and establish greater oversight of foreign land purchases near U.S. military bases and other sensitive sites.

“Under President Biden’s failed leadership, we’ve watched the largest invasion in American history happen through our southern border, the ruthless attack on our ally Israel by Hamas terrorists and the emboldening of foreign adversaries like Iran, China, and Russia,” said Senator Scott. “My amendments take critical steps to secure our southern border, bolster our national security and ensure not a single cent of U.S. taxpayer money goes to terrorism-complicit organizations.”

The full list of Senator Scott’s amendments can be found below:

• Build the Wall First Act: This amendment prioritizes the construction of a wall on the southwestern border between the United States and Mexico.
• Preventing Terrorism at the United Nations Act: Like Senator Scott’s recently introduced legislation, this amendment would suspend all U.S. funding to the United Nations (UN) until UNRWA is permanently shuttered and the Secretary of State can certify that no UN employees in UNRWA’s current jurisdiction support terrorism.
• Protect Our Bases Act: Like Senator Scott’s legislation, this amendment ensures the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’s (CFIUS) review of foreign land purchases near sensitive military, intelligence and national laboratory sites is accurate by requiring member agencies to annually update and review their lists of these sites.
• Senator Scott also joined Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) in cosponsoring an alternative means to cut off funding for UNRWA by preventing the U.S. from making any contribution, grant or other payment to UNRWA, including through the United Nations regular budget.