Congress: 104 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: neutral
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Official record on Congress.gov — full text, actions, and cosponsor history for HR 2576.
Sponsor: Gilman, Benjamin A. (R-NY)
Amends the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1994, as contained in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995, and as amended by other Federal law, to extend, from November 1, 1995, through December 1, 1995, the President's authority to suspend specified prohibitions against foreign and United Nations assistance to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the receipt or expenditure of PLO funds, and PLO membership in the International Monetary Fund, upon certification to specified congressional committees that: (1) such waiver is in the national interest; and (2) the PLO continues to abide by commitments made in letters to Israel and the Foreign Minister of Norway and under the Declaration of Principles signed in September 1993. Amends the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 (not enacted until February 12, 1996) to decrease from 18 months to 12 months the President's period of authority to suspend certain provisions of law with respect to the PLO.
Extends the President's power to waive US restrictions on aid to and dealings with the PLO through December 1, 1995, provided the President certifies to Congress that the waiver serves US national interests and the PLO continues honoring its commitments to Israel under the 1993 Oslo Accords. Also shortens a future presidential waiver authority from 18 months to 12 months.
This governs whether the US can maintain diplomatic and financial engagement with the PLO during the Oslo peace process. The extension is conditional on PLO compliance with Israel-bound commitments, reflecting the procedurally balanced framework Congress established for measuring adherence to the peace agreement.