,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cedi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #d1 #bjah ,mr4 ,coons 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,graham1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,mr4 ,gardner7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,palestinian ,partnership ,fund to promote joint economic development and finance joint ventures between ,palestinian entrepreneurs and companies in the ,united ,states1 ,israel1 and countries in the ,middle ,east to improve economic cooperation and people to people exchanges to further shared community building1 peaceful coexistence1 dialogue1 and reconciliation between ,israelis and ,palestinians4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,palestinian ,partnership ,fund ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,while the ,united ,states and its international allies continue to support diplomatic and political negotiations between the representatives of the parties to the ,israeli-,palestinian conflict and others1 in the long run1 such efforts require broad popular support among people to succeed4 ,in order to achieve lasting peace in the ,middle ,east1 the people who live there must1 over time1 sustain any potential high-level agreements4 7#b7 ,through support for joint economic initiatives and people-to-people exchanges1 millions of ordinary ,israelis and ,palestinians affected by this conflict can assist in building support for lasting peace4 7#c7 ,the ,palestinian technology sector is growing by approximately #aj percent annually and1 as of #bjah1 accounts for approximately #f percent of the ,palestinian gross domestic product4 7#d7 ,in the ,palestinian territories1 each new job in the technology sector contributes an estimated #ih1jjj in value added per year1 compared to #af1jjj of value added per year1 on average1 that is contributed by jobs in other sectors4 7#e7 ,palestinian entrepreneurs could greatly benefit from more start-up experience and improved access to experienced investors1 professional networks1 and foreign partners4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 building a viable ,palestinian economy is central to the effort to preserve the possibility of a #b-state solution2 7#b7 technology-led economic development in the ,palestinian territories will create much needed employment1 stem brain drain of ,palestinian talent1 and contribute to regional stability2 7#c7 cooperation between the ,palestinian1 ,united ,states1 and ,israeli technology sectors will benefit the ,palestinian1 ,american1 and ,israeli people and should be encouraged2 7#d7 strengthening cooperation between the ,palestinian territories1 the ,united ,states1 and ,israel in the areas of applied technology industry and people-to-people exchanges will-- 7,a7 increase the bonds of friendship and understanding between the people living in the ,palestinian territories and the people of the ,united ,states and ,israel2 and 7,b7 advance the state of research and development to the benefit of all parties2 and 7#e7 ,united ,states and international support for grassroots people to people efforts aimed at shared economic growth1 reconciliation1 and fostering tolerance can help serve as an antidote to false propaganda by terrorist groups and the growing issue of incitement4 #d4 ,palestinian ,partnership ,fund 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 shall establish the ,palestinian ,partnership ,fund 7referred to in this section as the ,fund71 which shall be funded with amounts appropriated pursuant to section #e4 7#b7 ,contributions ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development shall make every effort to seek additional contributions for the ,fund from ,middle ,eastern countries1 ,europe1 and the rest of the international community4 7#c7 ,governance ,the ,majority ,leader and the ,minority ,leader in the ,senate1 and the ,speaker and the ,minority ,leader in the ,house of ,representatives1 shall each appoint a representative to the governing entity of the ,fund4 ,the governing entity of the ,fund should oversee1 and include experts in1 program integrity1 monitoring1 and evaluation and assessment4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,fund is to facilitate and finance-- 7#a7 joint ventures in ,israel1 the ,west ,bank1 and ,gaza1 including between ,palestinian entrepreneurs and companies in the ,united ,states1 ,israel1 and countries in the ,middle ,east to improve economic cooperation in research and development and in the technology industry2 and 7#b7 people to people exchanges to further shared community building1 peaceful coexistence1 dialogue1 and reconciliation between ,israelis and ,palestinians4 7c7 ,uses of funds ,amounts deposited into the ,fund may be used-- 7#a7 to support joint research1 economic development1 and technology industry activities of mutual benefit to the ,palestinian territories1 the ,united ,states1 and ,israel2 7#b7 to promote the integration of the ,palestinian economy into the international business system through private sector engagement between ,palestinian entrepreneurs and businesses and the private sector in the ,united ,states1 ,europe1 and the ,middle ,east 7including ,israel72 7#c7 to fund joint project costs involving ,palestinian entrepreneurs and companies in the ,united ,states1 ,israel1 and countries in the ,middle ,east2 7#d7 to generate mutually beneficial cooperation between the private sectors of the ,palestinian1 ,american1 and ,israeli high tech industries1 including start-ups and established organizations2 and 7#e7 to support people to people exchanges1 shared community building1 peaceful coexistence1 and reconciliation between ,israelis and ,palestinians4 7d7 ,eligibility 7#a7 ,national governments ,national governments are not eligible to receive a grant from the ,fund4 7#b7 ,geographic discrimination prohibited ,in selecting grant recipients under this section1 the administrators of the ,fund may not discriminate against any community or entity in ,israel1 the ,west ,bank1 or ,gaza due to its geographic location4 7#c7 ,limitations ,none of the funds made available pursuant to this ,act may be made available for assistance for any individual or group that the administrators of the ,fund1 in consultation with the heads of other relevant agencies of the ,united ,states ,government1 determines to be involved in1 or advocating1 terrorist activity or a member of a foreign terrorist organization1 as designated pursuant to section #bai of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahi74 7#d7 ,savings provision ,assistance from the ,fund shall be subject to all relevant laws relating to ,federal ,government assistance4 7e7 ,annual report 7#a7 ,in general ,at the end of each fiscal year in which the ,united ,states ,government makes any contribution to the ,fund under this section1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit a written report to ,congress that describes the extent to which the ,fund1 and ,united ,states contributions to the ,fund1 have contributed-- 7,a7 to promoting and supporting joint economic development2 7,b7 to integrating the ,palestinian economy into the international business system2 and 7,c7 to furthering contact1 cooperation1 dialogue1 and reconciliation between ,israelis and ,palestinians4 7#b7 ,matters to be included ,each report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 information regarding-- 7i7 contributions pledged to1 contributions 7including donations from the private sector7 received by1 and projects funded by the ,fund2 and 7ii7 the mechanisms established for transparency and accountability in the grant making and investment process2 7,b7 a description of the ,fund's operations1 activities1 budget1 receipts1 and expenditures for the preceding #ab-month period1 including an audited report of the ,fund's finances1 including statements of financial position1 operations1 and cash flows1 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards prescribed by the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states2 7,c7 insights gleaned from what improves the efficacy of people-to-people relationships2 and 7,d7 a description of potential strategies for getting to sustainability for civic institutions that the ,fund creates or supports1 including novel financing mechanisms4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj1 for each of the fiscal years #bjai through #bjbd1 which shall be used for ,united ,states contributions to the ,fund established pursuant to section #d1 and shall remain available until expended4