Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 2/27/2025… Today, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05),  reintroduced the PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act. This legislation would sanction PLO and PA officials involved in pay-to-slay transactions that reward terrorists for committing heinous crimes in Israel.

Despite continued demands to end this program and misleading comments by PA officials, this program continues in full operation. Companion legislation was introduced by Senator Tom Cotton (AR) last month. 

“Pay-to-slay terrorism is a disgraceful and inhumane practice, and it is well past time we put an end to it. The PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act will ensure those who enable these horrific acts are held fully accountable. By imposing tough sanctions on those behind these payments, we are delivering a clear and unwavering message: terrorism will not be tolerated or rewarded,” said Congressman Lawler (NY-17). I'm proud to stand with my colleagues and push for the passage of this vital legislation. Together, we can take a decisive step toward ending this senseless violence once and for all.”

“The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization continue to support terrorism against Israel by providing hundreds of millions of dollars per year in their reprehensible ‘pay-for-slay’ program. Anti-semitic Palestinian terrorists know they can expect payment as a reward for killing Israelis and Americans–with thousands of Palestinian terrorists tied to October 7 eligible for these terror payments. Our bill will ensure that the PA, PLO, and their institutions that reward acts of terrorism are punished,” said Senator Cotton (AR). 

“The PLO and PA continue to incentivize terrorist attacks on innocent Israeli civilians with payments that reward terrorists and their families for murdering innocent people. Often, these payments are proportional to the number of innocent lives taken. There should be no reward for terrorism, and those who take part in the “pay to slay” program should be harshly penalized. The PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act moves to sanction the terrorists who are supplying financial rewards to those who are responsible for killing hundreds of Israelis and American citizens,” said Congresswoman Tenney (NY-24).

“The murderous Pay-to-Slay program cannot be incentivized, and it cannot go unpunished,” said Congressman Moskowitz (FL-23). “That’s why I’m leading this bipartisan group of lawmakers to crack down on pay-to-slay martyr payments and stop them at their source. Through our PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act, Congress will send a clear, bipartisan message that the United States will not stand idly by as the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization continue to encourage the atrocious murder of Israeli civilians. Their terror must stop, and this bill will hold accountable those who are involved in it.”

“For years, the Palestinian Authority has supported “Pay to Slay,” a policy to compensate the families of terrorists who murder innocent civilians, including Sara Duker from Teaneck. That’s why I’m proud to lead the bipartisan PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act to help put an end to these disgusting payments that only serve to incentivize more terrorism,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “We must hold the Palestinian Authority accountable for this decades-old policy and ensure they finally stop rewarding the slaughter of innocent Israelis and Jews.”

The PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act would impose sanctions on:

• Foreign persons who serve as an employee of the PLO and PA that have facilitated the payments, provided payments themselves, or knowingly provided significant financial, technological, or material support and resources as part of the PLO and PA’s system of compensation supporting acts of terrorism. 
• Entities that facilitate the PLO and PA system of compensation supporting acts of terrorism including the Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners, the Institute for the Care of the Families of the Martyrs and the Wounded, the Palestine National Fund, and National Association of the Families of the Martyrs of Palestine.
• Foreign financial institutions that participate in a financial transaction that is part of the PLO and PA’s system of compensation supporting acts of terrorism. 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

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The full text of this bill can be found HERE.