Watch Senator Scott’s opening remarks HERE or read below: 

“Today’s hearing on reforming the United Nations could not come at a more important moment. Across America, families are asking whether their tax dollars are working for them or against them.

As Secretary Rubio has said, with every dime we spend, we must ask: Does this make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous?

And we need to be able to look our constituents in the eye and say ‘absolutely, yes.’

Today, I am introducing two bills to do that.

The first is the Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026. For decades, UNRWA has operated as a permanent refugee bureaucracy. But since the October 7 terrorist attacks, evidence has clearly shown that UNRWA employees actively supported Hamas, have promoted antisemitic and extremist content in schools, and have even participated in atrocities against Israeli civilians.

This bill will make permanent what has rightly been U.S. policy since October 7: an end of all funding to UNRWA, as well as related entities related to it or any that may come after it.

This bill will revoke the privileges and immunities that UNRWA officials currently hold under the International Organizations Immunities Act—so those who support terrorism can be held directly accountable in our courts rather than shielded by diplomatic status.

More broadly, the bill ensures that U.S. taxpayers will never again be forced to sponsor U.N. bodies chaired by governments that the State Department itself identifies as repeatedly supporting terrorism.

The American people should not have to hand over their hard-earned money to support organizations that funnel their resources to state sponsors of terror.

The second bill I am introducing today is the IGO Anti Boycott Act. In the 1970s, Congress acted to stop the Arab League’s attempt to economically isolate Israel. They passed laws which made it clear to American companies that they would face financial consequences if they participated in this boycott. And it worked.

Today however, the same campaign of economic pressure now works through international bodies—UN agencies and other IGOs that compile blacklists of Israeli companies and seek to delegitimize Israel economically.

The principle is simple and vital: We in Congress can never let the whim of an international body override the security and prosperity of the American people.  America’s sovereignty means WE will decide who we support, whom we trade with, and whom we defend.

My bills affirm that our commitment to our allies will never be subordinated to the agendas of unaccountable international organizations. They say clearly that America stands for accountability, for freedom, and for allies who share our belief in liberty, not those who rip us off by taking our tax dollars and defend terrorists.

I would like to thank Senators Hoeven, Tim Scott, Ricketts, Haggerty, Barrasso, Britt, Budd, and Lee for their support.

Ambassador Waltz, I want to invite you to share any thoughts you have on these bills and on the broader question of how the United States can ensure its contributions to international organizations advance—not erode—our values.”

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