Family and friends of Taylor Force, a West Point graduate killed by a Palestinian terrorist in 2016, lobbied a group of bipartisan senators this week to pass the Taylor Force Act, which would end U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority until it stops rewarding terrorists.
"It is bipartisan, it’s not political, and it should be bipartisan. It needs to change," Force's mother Robbi told Fox News.
Force was killed in Tel Aviv, Israel, after walking with friends from college. A terrorist attacked the group with a knife and stabbed Force to death.
His sister, Kristen Force, collapsed on a sidewalk in shock upon learning of her brother's death. Learning about the financial incentives for such attacks compounded her grief and motivated the family.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), called his meeting with the Force family "very powerful."
"I’m more dedicated than ever to make sure that the Taylor Force Act is signed into law by President Trump," Graham said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said the bill is "long overdue."
Multiple senators in meetings with Force's family and friends, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), and Bob Corker (R., Tenn.), have spoken up about the bill.
Discussed the progress we are making on the Taylor Force Act yesterday with his family and some of his classmates. We will continue our work to put an end to a policy that rewards acts of terrorism like the one that tragically took Taylor’s life. More: https://t.co/EQznQpuRVA. pic.twitter.com/VKrSTa0d18
— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) February 28, 2018
Honored to meet with the family, classmates, and supporters of Taylor Force this week about the Taylor Force Act. It’s an outrage that US taxpayers are still subsidizing Palestinian terrorism and the murder of Americans and Israelis. The Senate should pass this bill immediately. pic.twitter.com/DsY6SXCSig
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 1, 2018
The US must hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for incentivizing and rewarding terrorism providing $350 million in 2017 alone to terrorists, and the families of those who died committing acts of terrorism against Israeli and American citizens.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 27, 2018
A similar bill passed the House in December, but Democrats have put a hold on the bill over concerns over the bill's language.
Nonetheless, they remain optimistic that the Senate will take it up soon.
"With the passage of this law, Taylor will not have died in vain," Graham said.