Rick Scott to push for passage of ‘Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott promised to push for the “unanimous passage” of his Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act.

“As soon as the Senate returns to Washington, I’ll be asking for the unanimous passage of my Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act,” he said Sunday after full-scale war broke out between Israel and Hamas after the latter launched attacks on Israeli civilians.

The bill would bar taxpayer funds from going into “the territory of Gaza,” per Scott’s office, until the president certifies to a committee that the funds can be spent without benefiting any group or persons “who are members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any other terrorist organization.”

It also cracks down on funds benefiting those who are “controlled or influenced by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any other terrorist organization.”

Additionally, it would make sure funds cannot go to any entity that the president cannot certify “is not encouraging or teaching anti-Israel and anti-Semitic ideas and propaganda.”

“I’ve fought for years to pass this bill, but it’s been blocked by Senate Dems at every turn,” he said. “We must unite behind Israel NOW.”

“In 2021, after Iran-backed Hamas terrorists bombed Israel relentlessly for 11 days, I asked the Senate to pass this bill. Senate Democrats blocked it,” Scott continued. “This bill simply requires the president to certify that any aid sent to Gaza doesn’t go to terrorists.”

Scott initially introduced the bill in February. As of Monday, no additional action has been taken on it yet.

The Florida Republican filed the legislation with Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind.

Amid escalations between Israel and Hamas, Florida provided resources for Floridians in Israel.

The Florida senator directed criticism towards the Biden administration amid a recent unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian assets.

“This is a wake up call to @JoeBiden & all the radical leftists who have coddled Iran. It’s a terrorist state that must be treated as such,” Scott said.

For Floridians currently in Israel, the Florida Department of State urged citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel to fill out this form or call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131.

Citizens of the U.S. who are currently in Israel are also urged to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.